News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 6, 2003 State Wildlife Biologist, Dave Scott - high resolution photo SNOWSHOE HARE REINTRODUCTION PROGRAM CONTINUES IN NORTHEAST OHIO AKRON, OH - An additional 21 snowshoe hares were released today in Geauga County as part of a continuing effort by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife to re-establish the species in Ohio. “Four years ago we began importing hares from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula,” said state wildlife biologist Dave Scott. “Since that time, 398 snowshoe hares have been brought to Ohio, including the 107 hares recently released in Geauga County.” The snowshoe hare disappeared from Ohio in the early 1900s. In 2000, the ODNR Division of Wildlife started relocating hares from Michigan’s Seney (SEE-knee) National Wildlife Refuge and releasing them at several sites along the Geauga/Ashtabula county line. “Our goal is to establish ‘anchor’ populations of hares in both Geauga and Lake counties in hopes that they naturally expand to neighboring counties,” said Scott. Up to 7" long hind feet - high resolution Snowshoe Hare - high resolution A favored target of several predators, a hare’s survival depends on snowshoe-like hind feet that grow up to 7 inches long and have webbing between the toes. These specialized features enable the hare to stay atop deep snow, dart quickly into dense, woody cover and leap up to 10 feet, important skills for evading predators. Compared to the familiar and abundant cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hares are slightly larger. Also differing from their cottontail cousin, snowshoe hares’ brown fur turns white in winter; a color phase that limits their range to northeast Ohio where they blend in with the ample, annual snowfall. The snowshoe hare reintroduction program is funded through contributions to the Ohio Wildlife Diversity, Income Tax Check-off Program and through sales of wildlife conservation license plates. Checking the appropriate boxes on line 17 on the state’s IT-1040 EZ form or line 25 on the IT-1040 form not only helps restoration efforts for snowshoe hares, but also projects involving trumpeter swans, ospreys and peregrine falcons. -30- For additional news online, check out the ODNR Press Room at Ohiodnr.com For Further Information Contact: Bill Beagle, ODNR Division of Wildlife (330) 644-2293 -or- Andy Ware, ODNR Media Relations (614) 265-6882