Distribution, abundance und dynamics of a mountain hare population in the Swiss Alps

As a post-glacial relict species, the mountain hare is a model species for studies on the effects of environmental change (e.g. climate change, land use change, hunting) on ​​Alpine wildlife. Thus, we have developed a reliable, non-invasive method for a long-term mountain hare monitoring (Rehnus & Bollmann 2016). Using this method, we study the population dynamics of a free-living, protected mountain hare population in the Swiss National Park as well as the interactions with other species (e.g. predators, brown hare). Results of this population are planned to be compared with populations from regions with human disturbance (i.e. outdoor activities, hunting).