Mountain Hare
Mountain Hare Facts
| Size | 18-26 inches (45-65 cm) |
| Speed | Up to 25 mph (40 km/h) |
| Weight | 5-11 pounds (2-5 kg) |
| Lifespan | 12 years |
| Food | Grasses, herbs, heather, twigs, bark |
| Predators | Golden eagle, eagle owl, lynx, red fox, stoat |
| Distribution | Northern Europe, Alps, Russia, Asia |
| Habitat | Tundra, forest, moor |
| Order | Lagomorpha |
| Family | Leporidae |
| Genus | Lepus |
| Scientific name | Lepus timidus |
| Characteristics | Hare with white winter fur and brown summer fur |
Main Characteristics
The mountain hare is a medium-sized hare that lives in the northern parts of Eurasia and Russia. It is also known as blue hare, tundra hare, white hare, snow hare, alpine hare and Irish hare. During the summer, its fur is brown, which is why it can easily be confused with the brown hare. Whether they change to white fur in the winter depends on their environment. If they live in areas with a lot of snow, they will turn white. If there isn’t much snow, they will stay gray-brown.
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution
Mountain hares are found in many European countries, for example in England, Scotland, Ireland, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway as well as in the Alpine region, the Baltics and Eastern Europe. They also live in Asia and Russia, especially in Siberia, Mongolia, northern China and the Japanese island of Hokkaido.
Habitat
Mountain hares thrive in tundras, forests, and moors as their natural habitats. They are also found in the Alps, where they can be spotted at elevations ranging from 2,300 to 12,500 feet (700-3,800 meters). In Ireland, these hares make their home in grasslands, coastal regions, and salt marshes, which are meadows that experience regular flooding from the sea.
Way of Life
Mountain hares are mainly active at night. During the day they hide in places protected from the wind or seek shelter in shallow depressions in the ground. They're sociable and live in small groups of 20 or more animals.
Anatomy and Appearance
Size and Weight
Mountain hares have a body length of 18-26 inches (45-65 cm). The tail and ears are 1.5-3 inches (4-8 cm) in length. The weight is 5-11 pounds (2-5 kg).
Fur
Mountain hares have three distinct layers of fur, each with varying hair lengths. They feature a short undercoat measuring 0.6 inches (1.5 cm), a soft, fluffy layer that is 1 inch (2.5 cm) long, and a longer top layer that reaches 1.5 inches (4 cm).
Color
• Body
The mountain hare adapts perfectly to its environment: In regions where snow falls frequently, its fur changes to white during the winter months. However, in areas that see little to no snow, it retains its brown color. Examples: The Nordic mountain hare is white all year round because it lives permanently in snowy areas. The Irish mountain hare stays brown all year round because there is almost never any snow there. The Alpine hare is only white in winter because most of the snow melts in summer.
• Ears
Regardless of whether a mountain hare changes its fur color in winter, the tips of its ears always stay black.
• Tail
The short tail always remains white, regardless of whether the mountain hare has white or brown fur.
Feet
Mountain hares have very long hind feet. They can be 5-8 inches (12-18 cm) long.
Adaptations to the Habitat
The mountain hare is perfectly adapted to life in the cold:
White Fur
The mountain hare's pure white winter fur allows it to blend seamlessly into its snowy surroundings. During the cold months, it becomes nearly indistinguishable from the snow, making it challenging for predators to find it. With a stroke of luck, predators might just pass by without ever noticing the hare.
Short Ears
Animals with long ears require more energy to maintain their warmth. They need to circulate additional blood to the ears, which depletes important fat reserves. This is the reason why mountain hares have shorter ears compared to brown hares.
Furry Feet
In the winter, the mountain hare has extra fur on its feet. It helps keep its feet warm and prevents it from sinking too deeply into the snow.
Mountain Hare or Brown Hare – What’s the Difference?
Mountain hares and brown hares are closely related and look very similar. However, they can be easily distinguished by one particular feature: The mountain hare features notably shorter ears, measuring just half the length of the ears found on the brown hare.
Mountain Hare or Arctic Hare – What’s the Difference?
The arctic hare was previously considered a subspecies of the mountain hare. Today we know that there are two different species. They look very similar. However, the Arctic hare has a much thicker fat layer in winter. It also lives further north, in the polar regions.
Diet
Mountain hares are herbivores. Their diet varies with the seasons and their environment. During the summer months, they primarily consume grasses, herbs, mosses, bark, and twigs. In the winter, their diet shifts to mainly heather.
Behavior
Hiding
Mountain hares leave clearly visible tracks in the snow that are easy to follow. However, they have a clever trick to fool predators. When they need to rest, they jump to the side of their tracks and remain still. Attackers following the trail are confused because it suddenly stops. As long as the mountain hare stays low and doesn’t move, it has a good chance of not being discovered.
Senses and Abilities
Sense of Hearing
Mountain hares have an excellent sense of hearing, which is one of their most important senses. This ability helps them detect approaching predators well in advance.
Sense of Sight
Mountain hares have great vision, allowing them to see nearly 360 degrees around them.
Speed
Mountain hares are capable of reaching speeds of up to 25 mph (40 km/h).
Life Expectancy
Mountain hares live for 3-4 years in the wild.
Enemies and Threats
Natural Enemies
Mountain hares have many enemies. They are primarily preyed upon by golden eagles, eagle owls, lynxes, red foxes and stoats.
Human Impact
The greatest threat to the mountain hare is climate change and the loss of habitat linked to it. It is adapted to life in cold, snowy regions. In Northern Europe and the Alps, there is not as much snow as there used to be. This means that the habitats for animals are getting smaller and more broken up. Because of this, different groups of animals have to live apart, which makes their genetic diversity decrease. Additionally, skiing and mountain tourism in the Alps pose a threat to the mountain hare. Sadly, this means that the mountain hare is at risk in this area.
Importance for the Ecosystem
Mountain hares are the main food source for many animals such as birds of prey, owls, big cats, foxes and weasels.
Reproduction
Mountain hares give birth to young ones two to three times a year. Following a gestation period of 7-8 weeks, they typically have 2-5 babies. These little ones are born with fur, which helps keep them warm. By the time they reach four weeks old, they are fully independent.
The Mountain Hare Is Related To:
- Alaskan Hare
- Arctic Hare
Animals in the Same Biome:
- Alpine Chough
- Ermine
- Eurasian Eagle-Owl
- Golden Eagle
- Lynx
- Red Fox
- Rock Ptarmigan
- Snowy Owl
Sources:
- "Mountain Hare" (https://hare-preservation-trust.com)
- "Mountain hares Lepus timidus and tourism: stress events and reactions" (https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
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