Endangered jackrabbit Lepus flavigularis prefers to establish its feeding and resting sites on pasture with cattle presence

Published source details Luna-Casanova A., Rioja-Paradela T., Scott-Morales L. & Carrillo-Reyes A. (2016) La liebre amenazada Lepus flavigularis prefiere establecer sus sitios de alimentación y descanso en potreros con presencia de ganado. Therya, 7, 277-284.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Manage vegetation using livestock grazing Action Link

Manage vegetation using livestock grazing

A replicated, paired sites study in 2014 in 10 pastures in Oaxaca, Mexico (Luna-Casanova et al. 2016) found that in pastures grazed by cattle, Tehuantepec jackrabbits Lepus flavigularis spent more time feeding than they did in pastures not grazed by cattle. When in pastures with cattle, Tehuantepec jackrabbits spent more time feeding (75%) than when in pastures without cattle (66%). The study was conducted in five pastures with cattle (average of 16 cows/pasture) and five pastures without. Pastures averaged 11 ha extent and were located next to each other. Cattle moved freely within each pasture. In March 2014, twenty-two adult jackrabbits were captured, radio-tagged and released at the capture site. Animals were followed for ≤10 days in March and September 2014. Additionally, jackrabbit behaviour was recorded from five fixed observation sites throughout the study area. The behaviour (eating, resting and socializing) of jackrabbits was recorded between 6:00–10:00 h and 17:00–20:00 h in pastures with or without cattle.

(Summarised by: Ricardo Rocha)