Predation on brown hare and ring-necked pheasant populations on southern Sweden

• in an open field area in southern Sweden. Biomass and numbers of hares and pheasants eaten by the predators were calculated from data on food habits, food requirements, and numbers of the mammalian and avian predators present (11 species). At the same time estimates of numbers and production of hares and pheasants were obtained. At least 40% of the estimated annual production of hares and almost 60% of subadult-adultp heasants in autumn were consumed by the predators. Estimated numbers of hares and pheasants taken by the predators greatly exceeded shootinga nd road mortality.F oxes and cats were the predominantp reda-tors on hares( about9 0%o f total harec onsumption). Foxesa ccountedf or aboutt wo-thirds of predation on pheasants; cats and goshawks were of secondary importance. Pheasant nests were preyed upon by hooded crows and also by badgers. Hares and pheasantsc ontributedo nly about 3 and 1%, respectively,o f the food of the predators. 

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