Occupancy and habitat associations of European hares and rabbits in mesic forests of the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia

Context Globally, invasive species contribute to ecological decline by outcompeting native fauna. Effective management of invasive species’ impacts should be informed by context-specific data. In Australia, the European hare (Lepus europaeus) remains poorly understood, especially in terms of distribution and ecological impacts, while the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a well-researched pest, particularly in agricultural landscapes. Research has not sufficiently addressed the ecology of hares and rabbits in Australia’s forested environments. Aims We assessed the occupancy of hares and rabbits in the Northern Tablelands forests of New South Wales and identified factors associated with their occurrence. Methods In a single-season survey, we deployed 300 cameras, across four study sites, in Guy Fawkes River National Park and Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, to gather data on hare and rabbit distributions. We quantified temporal activity patterns and analysed site occupancy of hares and rabbits using single season occupancy models. Detection data were pooled to estimate landscape-scale occupancy and to generalise results within a mesic system. Key results Across 12,303 camera trap nights, hares and rabbits were detected infrequently. Hare occupancy decreased with increasing distance from non-native vegetation and increased with elevation and topographic wetness index. Rabbit occupancy also decreased with increasing distance from non-native vegetation and elevation. Hares and rabbits exhibited high temporal activity overlap (>80%). Conclusions Our study provides insight into habitat associations and potential drivers of hare and rabbit distribution in mesic forests. The observed relationships between occupancy, proximity to non-native vegetation, and elevation establish a baseline for understanding hare and rabbit ecology in forested landscapes, where their ecological roles remain poorly documented. Implications This study improves understanding of hare and rabbit occupancy in forested landscapes and highlights the need for monitoring approaches to be tailored for the target species. Although our survey design aligns with standard methods for native fauna, the unique behaviours and detectability of hares and rabbits may require tailored approaches. Refining these methods is crucial for deepening our understanding of these species’ ecology and impacts, as well as supporting more effective and targeted management.