BEHAVIOR AND MATERNAL REIATIONS OF YOUNG SNOWSHOE HARES1

lEe behavior of four young snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) and the activities of a female during the fme she was canng for these young were determined by using radiotelemetry. The female was with her young only once each day for only S to 10 minutes. The time of returning was remarkably con- stant, and appeared to be related to a certain light intensity during the evening twilight period. The movements of a second female during a penod when she was known to have had two litters was also determined. It appeared that this family also assembled only once a day but later in the twilight period. lEe young spent the day in separate hiding plates and got together only about S to 10 minutes before the female returned to nurse them; they then dispersed and remained alone until the following evening Weekly home ranges of the young varied from 1.6 acres to 4.9 acres during the second to sixth week of life; they then increased rapidly to about the 5ize of their mother's home range ( approximately 20 acres ) . Abstract: lEe behavior of four young snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) and the activities of a female during the fme she was canng for these young were determined by using radiotelemetry. The female was with her young only once each day for only S to 10 minutes. The time of returning was remarkably con- stant, and appeared to be related to a certain light intensity during the evening twilight period. The movements of a second female during a penod when she was known to have had two litters was also determined. It appeared that this family also assembled only once a day but later in the twilight period. lEe young spent the day in separate hiding plates and got together only about S to 10 minutes before the female returned to nurse them; they then dispersed and remained alone until the following evening Weekly home ranges of the young varied from 1.6 acres to 4.9 acres during the second to sixth week of life; they then increased rapidly to about the 5ize of their mother's home range ( approximately 20 acres ) .