Hare today, gone tomorrow: Hunters and biologists are noting low rabbit numbers this season

Most of us are well aware of the seven-to-11-year population cycle of the snowshoe hare in Newfoundland.

Hunters and trappers in particular also know that our "rabbit," as they are more commonly referred to in these parts, is the primary food of lynx. When rabbit numbers are high, species populations like the lynx start to increase, and when rabbit populations go down, the lynx population also drops.

We're used to seeing this. It's as nature has intended.

So why, many of us are wondering, do rabbit numbers in many parts of the province appear to be exceptionally low this year? And by "low," we're talking about two or three rabbits in 40 snares, or just couple hares in the bag after four experienced hunters and two good beagles searching the woods for seven hours.

Even in previous low years, we'd collect or bag at least three times that number.

Now, before some of you jump to the keyboard to let me know there's no shortage in your area, I'm already aware of this— particularly on the west coast of Newfoundlnd, where the population seems to be relatively healthy. And yes, there are often "pockets" of hares to be found even in areas experiencing low numbers overall.

In early December, Harry Stringer, 72, of Caplin Cove in Trinity Bay made a simple observation on the N.L. Rabbit Snaring Facebook group: "This is the worst year I've seen at the rabbits. Absolutely nothing!"

Stringer has always gotten enough rabbits for family and friends, so he's never even noticed the ups and down of the population cycle.

"But I've never experienced going five or six weeks without getting rabbits like I have this year," he noted. "Maybe it's because they've turned white and there's no snow around here, which makes them easy targets for owls and coyotes. Hopefully, if and when we get snow, things will change."

Many of my own hunting buddies have since echoed these comments and are basically wondering what's happening, with several of them suggesting that the growing — make that, exploding - coyote population is keeping numbers down.

So far this season on the Avalon Peninsula, Tony Vinnicombe and I have hunted parts of eight days with his beagles — good dogs at that — and by Christmas we had harvested a grand total of 10 rabbits.

Keith Wheaton of Glenwood hasn't been having much success, either.

"I have been snaring my whole life and rabbits have been scare the past three or four years in central," he said, adding this year has been the worst yet.

"Forty snares, one rabbit!" he commented on Dec. 14.