The Snowshoe Hare

Rabbit or hare? That is the question. A snowshoe hare looks like a rabbit at first glance, but, hares have longer ears and very large hind feet which are densely furred with stiff hairs, forming the snowshoe. Hares are also born with fur and with their eyes open, unlike the rabbit.

The snowshoe hare is slightly larger than the cottontail rabbit, but smaller than the black-tailed jackrabbit, measuring 10-15 inches and weighing only 2-4 pounds. Telescoping ears helps the hare gather sounds from many directions giving it a keen sense of hearing. Large hind feet help it stand up and reach branches to feed on. Its nose and whiskers are keenly sensitive to help it smell or sense danger in the air. Its teeth are very strong made for gnawing on tree bark, woody twigs and tree buds from aspen, willow, birch, maple, sumac and alder in the winter.

In summertime the hare’s coat is a grayish brown with a blackish middorsal line, buffy flanks and a white belly. The face and legs are cinnamon brown. During the winter the fur is almost entirely white, except for black eyelids and the blackened tips on the ears.

Snowshoe hare population densities can vary from 1 to 10,000 hares per square mile. They are active and most often seen out and about at dawn, dusk, and during the night. Snowshoe hares are found throughout Canada and in the northernmost United States. Their range extends south along the Sierras, Rockies, and Appalachian mountain ranges.

Snowshoe hares are experts at escaping predators. Young hares often "freeze" in their tracks when they are alerted to the presence of a predator. Presumably, they are attempting to escape notice by being cryptic. Given the hare's background-matching coloration, this strategy is quite effective. Older hares are more likely to escape predators by fleeing. Predators of the snowshoe hare include; gray foxes, red foxes, coyotes, wolves, lynx, bobcats and mink.

FUN FACTS:

At top speed a snowshoe hare can travel up to 27 miles per hour. An adult hare can cover up to 10 feet in a single bound.

Snowshoe hares are also accomplished swimmers. They occasionally swim across small lakes and rivers and they’ve been seen entering the water in order to avoid predators.

When engaging in aggressive activities these animals may hiss and snort. Most communication between hares involves thumping the hind feet against the ground.

They feed on green grasses, forbs, bluegrass, brome, vetches, asters, jewelweed, wild strawberry, pussy-toes, dandelions, clovers, daisies and horsetails. The new growth of trembling aspen, birches and willows is also eaten. During the winter months snowshoe hares forage on buds, twigs, bark and evergreens.

Breeding season for snowshoe hares runs from mid-March through August. Gestation lasts 36 days. When approaching birth female hares become highly aggressive and intolerant of males. They retire to a birthing area where they have prepared an area of packed down grasses. Females give birth to litters of up to 8 young, although the average litter size is usually two to four young. Males and females become mature within a year of their birth.

Their average lifespan in the wild is one year or less.