Agricultural land use effects on the winter diet of Brown Hares (Lepus europaeus Pallas) in southern Sweden

The winter diet of the Brown Hare in relation to agricultural land use was studied in three different areas (pasture land; mixed farmland; monoculture land) in southern Sweden. Stomachs from Hares were collected during the hunting season (October‐December). By microanalysis of epidermal structures, the plants eaten were determined as to species, genera or families. Altogether 37 plant species/genera were recognized, 20 of which were graminids and the other herbs. Grasses were most frequent at this time of the year and were highly utilized in pasture land and mixed farmland. Among cultivated plants, wheat was most frequent in mixed farmland (20‐5oo) and in monoculture land (48‐5%). Although widely represented in mixed farmland, rape was less utilized (12‐2%), while it was highly utilized in the monoculture land (37‐8%). Hares might possibly avoid rape food in the late autumn due to its content of glucosinulates. But in the absence of alternative food, rape will be more often utilized in monocultures. In all areas wild plants were preferred to cultivated crops, indicating the importance of a rich wild flora available to Hares. The results obtained suggest a way of improving the Hare's habitat.