Snowshoe Hare

Snowshoe hares are forest-dwellers that prefer the thick cover of brushy undergrowth. They are primarily a northern species that inhabit boreal forests and can also range as far north as the shores of the Arctic Ocean. Along with North American mountain ranges, where elevation simulates the environment of more northerly latitudes, they can be found as far south as Virginia (the Appalachians) and New Mexico (the Rockies). Snowshoe hares feed at night, following well-worn forest paths to feed on trees and shrubs, grasses, and plants.
These animals are nimble and fast, which is fortunate because they are a popular target for many predators. Lynx, fox, coyote, and even some birds of prey hunt this wary hare. Like most hares (and rabbits), snowshoe hares are prolific breeders. Females have two or three litters each year, which include from one to eight young per litter. Young hares, called leverets, require little care from their mothers and can survive on their own in a month or less. Snowshoe hare populations fluctuate cyclically about once a decade—possibly because of disease. These waning and waxing numbers greatly impact the animals that count on hares for food, particularly the lynx.
Category:Rabbits
Category:Mammals
Category:Arctic Animals
Category:Wildlife