A report in the Detroit Free Press cites a study claiming that climate change is reducing the population of Michigan's snowshoe hare – a favorite of hunters in the state: The rabbits have coats that adapt with the seasons to camouflage them with their environment. They turn white during the snow season and brown the rest of the year. With last winter an obvious exception, data show a decreasing number of days with snow on the ground is leading toward an 'alarming' decline in snowhoe hare sightings, according to recent Michigan State University study. There are many influences on wildlife populations, and determining unequivocal causation from a single factor is often nearly impossible.  Thus, the statement that “a decreasing number of days with snow on the ground is leading toward an 'alarming' decline in snowshoe hare sightings” requires some testing. Using data from the NOAA National Weather Service database, here are the...(Read Full Post)