Density of the brown hare (Lepus europaeus Pall.) and selected population indicators

The paper presents the results of research on body weight and the formation of population structures (age and sex) of hares in south-eastern Poland (Lublin Upland) conducted in 2019. 205 hares from four regions were analysed, differing in terms of density, and thus the hunting exploitation of the population in these areas. The obtained results showed that the body weight was determined by the age of the individuals, while sex had no significant effect on this parameter. Despite the significant variability of body weight in individual research areas, no significant differences in this feature between regions of origin were found.The age structure was dominated by adults (over 1 year of age), especially in areas with low population densities. In terms of sex structure, females clearly dominated. It has been shown that the described population structures can have a direct impact on the indicators of reproductive capacity and population continuity. Although the sample size was small in the low-density areas, the calculated indicators suggest that these populations are at serious risk of viability. In areas with higher density indicators, the possibilities of limiting hunting should be considered in order to maintain the level of density that guarantees optimal functioning of the population and its durability.