Distribution and Population Density of Jackrabbits in South Dakota

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Fall 2014

Departmental Paper Identifier

NRM-149

Abstract

Distribution of white-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii) and black-tailed jackrabbit (L. californicus) populations have been thought to be shifting throughout the Northern Great Plains. Anecdotal reports of population declines of white-tailed jackrabbits in recent years have created concern for wildlife managers. We established 21 spotlight line transects (64.4 km) across South Dakota to evaluate jackrabbit distribution as well as to facilitate future survey efforts. We conducted surveys during 2004 and 2005 to obtain baseline information about jackrabbit distribution and population density throughout the state. We observed white-tailed jackrabbits throughout the state, and estimated the highest population density in the northwestern part of the state and lowest in east-central South Dakota. We only observed black-tailed jackrabbits at very low densities in south-central South Dakota in Tripp and Gregory Counties.

Publication Title

Great Plains Research

Volume

24

Issue

2

First Page

127

Last Page

134

DOI of Published Version

10.1353/gpr.2014.0023

Publisher

University of Nebraska Press

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