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Home > Coniferous Forest Animals > Snowshoe Hare

Snowshoe Hare

Found in the Alpine region, the snowshoe hare is an interesting animal as it changes color according to the season. Either stays in groups or alone, the hare populates rapidly.

Snowshoe Hare

Scientific Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Lagomorpha
Family Leporidae
Genus Lepus
Scientific Name Lepus americanus

Quick Information

Also Known as Snowshoe rabbit and varying hare
DescriptionSize: 16-20 in (40.64-50.8 cm); Tail length 0.98-2.1 in (2.5-5.5 cm)

Weight: 32-64 oz (0.90-1.8 kg)

Color: White throughout the winter and brown during the summer
Subspecies and Distribution1. Lepus americanus americanus (Erxleben) – Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Montana, and North Dakota

2. L. a. columbiensis (Rhoads) – Washington, British Columbia, and Alberta

3. L. a. cascadensis (Nelson) – Washington and British Columbia

4. L. a. oregonus (Orr) – Oregon

5. L. a. klamathensis (Merriam) – California and Oregon

6. L. a. tahoensis (Orr) – Western Nevada and California

7. L. a. phaeonotus (J. A. Allen) – Michigan, Minnesota, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Wisconsin, and Manitoba,

8. L. a. pallidus (Cowan) – British Columbia

9. L. a. dalli (Merriam) – Mackenzie District, Alaska, British Columbia, Yukon

10. L. a. virginianus (Harlan) – Ontario, Massachusetts, Quebec, New Hampshire, Maryland, Maine, Vermont, North Carolina, New York, Virginia, Tennessee Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia

11. L. a. struthopus (Bangs) – Newfoundland, Maine, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Quebec, and New Brunswick

12. L. a. seclusus (Baker and Hankins) – Wyoming

13. L. a. washingtonii (Baird) – British Columbia, Oregon, and Washington

14. L. a. pineus (Dalquest) – British Columbia, Washington, and Idaho
Habitat Coniferous forests with thickets, swamps, and undergrowths
Sound & Calls They snort to express annoyance, squealing sound to defend themselves, emits a clicking noise during the courtship and calling for young hares
Lifespan Around 5 years
DietFor summer: Leaves, ferns and grasses

For Winter: barks, buds, and twigs
Adaptations 1. Their fur color changes to camoflouge, some of the hares can stay brown throughout the year as a part of adaptation, though it doesn’t serve the purpose.
2. Their hind feet are large and well adapted to run on the snos. The feet are also coated with fur to keep them warm.
3. Their ears have many veins that regulate their body temperatures
Predators Coyotes, foxes, lynxes, and bobcats
IUCN Conservation Status Least Concern
Snowshoe Hare Habitat
Image of Snowshoe Hare

Behavior

  • Snowshoe hares are nocturnal and always have their food at night
  • They are fast runners and usually change direction quickly, and creating obstructions with leaves to ward off predators
  • They can swim extremely well and jump in the water in order to run away from predators

Mating and Reproduction

Breeding seasons starts in March for snowshoe hares and males compete for their potential matches. After mating, followed by a gestation period of 36 days, females have 2-4 litters yearly, each including 1-8 young hares or leverets.

Baby Snowshoe Hare Picture
Snowshoe Hare Picture

Life-cycle

Snowshoe hares are born being fully covered with fur and eyes open. They weigh 1.5-2.6 oz at birth. After a few hours of their birth, they are able to hop. They become fully self dependent after 3-4 weeks. They attains sexual maturity at the age of 1.

Snowshoe Hare Image
Snowshoe Hare Bunny

 Interesting Facts

  • Snowshoe hares can jump upto 3 meters and they are fast as well. Their general speed is 27 miles per hours.
  • They efficiently munch on pine needles.

References

  1. https://animalcorner.org/animals/snowshoe-hare/
  2. https://www.hww.ca/en/wildlife/mammals/snowshoe-hare.html
  3. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Lepus_americanus/
  4. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/snowshoe-hare
  5. https://www.cbc.ca/kidscbc2/the-feed/fun-facts-about-cute-animals-snowshoe-hare-edition

 

Published on May 11th 2019 by Sahana Kanjilal under Coniferous Forest Animals.
Article was last reviewed on 5th December 2024.

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