Mountain hare

The Mountain hare (Lepus timidus) belongs to the order Lagomorpha and the family Leporidae. While primarily a wild animal found in northern forests, it is considered a significant agricultural pest in regions where forestry meets orchards, as it frequently feeds on woody plants during the winter season.

The damage caused by the Mountain hare mainly targets the bark of fruit trees and ornamental shrubs. Young trees, such as apple, pear, and plum varieties, are particularly vulnerable. When snow levels are high, hares gain access to higher branches and stems, causing extensive damage to the tree's protective layer.

The biological cycle of the Mountain hare involves seasonal fur molting, where the coat turns white in winter for camouflage. They are nocturnal foragers and their feeding activity increases significantly during harsh winters when their preferred natural food sources are covered by deep snow, forcing them to turn to cultivated gardens.

The economic impact of this pest is severe because it causes girdling — the act of removing bark all the way around the trunk. This damages the vascular system of the tree, effectively cutting off the flow of water and nutrients, which typically results in the death of the tree during the subsequent growing season.

To mitigate the risk of damage, growers should implement the following protective measures:

• Installing physical barriers like hardware cloth or wire mesh around the base of the tree trunks.
• Wrapping tree trunks with protective materials like burlap or specialized tree guards.
• Applying non-toxic taste-aversion repellents to the bark to discourage feeding.
• Removing brush or tall weeds from the vicinity of the orchard to eliminate hiding spots.