Citation. Mech, L. D. 1967. Telemetry as a technique in the study of predation. Journal of Wildlife Management 31(3):492-496.   [1428  CC]

Abstract. Eight snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) and five cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) were radio-tagged and tracked by an automatic system. Three of the hares, injured upon capture, lived an average of 2.3 days before being killed by predators. The remaining five survived for an average of at least 28.2 days. Of two uninjured rabbits killed, one was preyed upon within an hour after being disturbed; the other evaded predators for 24 days. Red foxes (Vulpes fulva) and owls probably were the main predators. Accounts of each instance of predation are given, including one in which both predator and prey were radio-tagged. The potential of telemetry for predation studies is emphasized, and suggestions are made for setting up such studies.

Keywords. Lagomorpha, radiotelemetry, predation studies