Arctic Hare
Arctic Hare Facts
| Size | 17-28 inches (43-70 cm) |
| Speed | Up to 37 mph (60 km/h) (short distance) |
| Weight | 5.5-12 pounds (2.5–5.5 kg) |
| Lifespan | 3-8 years |
| Food | Roots, moss, berries, buds |
| Predators | Snow-owl, wolf, polar bear, Arctic fox |
| Distribution | Greenland, North Canada |
| Habitat | Tundra |
| Order | Lagomorpha |
| Family | Leporidae |
| Genus | Lepus |
| Scientific name | Lepus arcticus |
| Characteristics | Rabbit with snow-white fur in winter, heavily furred feet |
Main Characteristics
The Arctic hare is a large hare. Of all the hares, it lives the furthest north and travels the longest distances. It has a very dense, warm fur that keeps it warm in the extremely cold Arctic temperatures. In winter it is white, in summer brown. Another distinctive feature is the particularly thick layer of fat, which makes up around 20% of its body weight.
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution
The Arctic hare lives at the 89th parallel – just one degree south of the North Pole. This makes it the hare that lives furthest north. It is widespread in northern Canada, northern Greenland, the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (especially Ellesmere Island), Newfoundland and Labrador.
Habitat
Arctic hares inhabit the tundra, where they thrive in the treeless environment. This open landscape allows them to keep a watchful eye on the plains, enabling them to swiftly escape from any potential threats.
Way of Life
Arctic hares are most active during the twilight hours and at night. While they typically prefer solitude, they come together in large groups of up to 300 when the winter temperatures drop significantly, seeking warmth by huddling close to one another.
Anatomy and Appearance
Size and Weight
Arctic hares have a body length of 17-28 inches (43-70 cm). They weigh 5.5-12 pounds (2.5–5.5 kg). Their tail is 2-4 inches (4.5-10 cm) long.
Feet
The Arctic hare features notably long feet, allowing it to sprint away swiftly. Each feet is equipped with long claws that assist in digging through the snow to find food.
Eyes
Arctic hares sport long black eyelashes that resemble "ski goggles," serving to shield their eyes from the intense sunlight.
Tail
The tail always remains white, both in summer and winter.
Teeth
Of all hares, the Arctic hare has the longest incisors. These long teeth are essential for digging up plants hidden beneath the snow or to exract them from crevices in rocks.
Fur and Color
• Summer Fur
In the summer months, the Arctic hare sports a gray, blue-gray, or brown fur to blend in the brown soil of the tundra. If it had white fur during this time, it would stand out against the brown and green tundra, making it an easy target for predators.
• Winter Fur
However, in winter, its fur transforms into a stunning snow white, providing excellent camouflage in the snowy surroundings. This seasonal color change depends on its location; hares living further north tend to change to summer fur less often, while those in southern regions are less likely to develop white winter fur. In some cases, they may even retain their blue-gray color throughout the year.
• Ears
The fur on its ears can be blue-grey or white, depending on whether it's sporting its summer or winter fur. However, regardless of the season, the tips are always black.
Diet
Arctic hares are herbivores. They have to cope with what nature offers them in the arctic tundra: woody plants, arctic willow, mosses and lichens. It doesn't sound tasty to us, but it's good enough for them. Luckily for the hare, there isn't snow in the tundra all year round. In summer they feed on delicious legumes, buds, berries, leaves, roots and bark. When they are hungry, they also eat fish and carcasses of dead reindeer and caribou.
Adaption to the Habitat
The Arctic hare is the northernmost of all hares, living really close to the North Pole—just one degree away! In winter, it gets super cold, sometimes dropping to -40 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 degrees Celsius). So, how does this hare survive in such freezing temperatures? It has made remarkable adaptatins to its icy environment:
Dense Fur
The Arctic hare is covered in a dense layer of fur that extends across its entire body, including its feet.
Short Nose
The Arctic hare features a short nose designed to minimize heat loss.
Building Caves
During the winter months, arctic hares create cozy little burrows in the snow. They take shelter inside while the frigid wind sweeps across the landscape.
Cuddling Up
Although these hares are solitary creatures, they come together in the cold to huddle for warmth during the winter months.
Fat Layer
The Arctic hare has a substantial layer of fat that helps it stay warm in its frigid environment. This fat accounts for roughly 20% of its body weight, which ranges from about 1-2.5 pounds (500-1,000 grams).
Behavior
Hibernation
Arctic hares don't hibernate. They're able to be active all year round because they're perfectly adapted to their habitat.
Defense
Arctic hares have limited ways to protect themselves. They can either sprint away at top speed or burrow into the snow, hoping to remain unseen by their predator. To keep an eye out for danger, they frequently rise up on their hind legs and stretch to get a better view of their surroundings.
Senses and Abilities
Senses
Arctic hares have excellent sense of hearing, smell and sight.
Speed
The Arctic hare is quite fast. When fleeing, it can reach speeds of up to 37 mph (60 km/h). This impressive speed comes from its powerful hind feet! With a bit of luck, it can escape from predators like arctic foxes and wolves.
Bounce
With one leap the Arctic hare can jump as far as 6.5-10 feet (2-3 meters).
Hopping
The Arctic hare typically moves by running on all fours, but it can also hop like a kangaroo. Remarkably, it can reach speeds of up to 18 mph (30 km/h)!
Migrations
Arctic hares travel surprisingly long distances in the Arctic. In 2019, 25 Arctic hares received a GPS transmitter. One of them covered a distance of 241 miles (388 km) within 49 days. It started in a place called Alert. It is the northernmost continously inhabited place on earth. While looking for food and a safe place to live, it traveled through Quittinirpaaq National Park, moving past Lake Hazen and returning again.
Life Expectancy
In the wild, arctic hares live 3-8 years.
Enemies and Threats
Natural Enemies
The Arctic hare has many enemies. These include, above all, weasels, stoats, lynxes, arctic foxes, snowy owls, falcons and hawks. Particularly harsh, cold winters and food shortages also pose a threat to it.
Human Impact
The biggest danger to the Arctic hare comes from human actions. People hunt them for their meat and use their fur to create warm clothing.
Endangerment Status
Arctic hares aren't an endangered species.
Reproduction
Arctic hares give birth to their young during the Arctic summer, which spans from May to July. A typical litter consists of two to eight babies. At birth, these little ones are covered in soft, warm fur and are able to see and even run. For their initial days, they stay hidden among the bushes, nestled in a comfy bed of moss and other plants to keep them safe. After about 2-3 weeks, they venture out of the nest for the first time, and by the time they reach two months old, they are capable of taking care of themselves.
The European Hare Is Related To:
- African Savanna Hare
- Black-Tailed Jackrabbit
- Mountain Hare
- Scrub Hare
- Snowshoe Hare
- White-Tailed Jackrabbit
Animals in the Same Biome:
Sources:
- „Most northerly lagomorph“ (https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com)
- „Longest lagomorph journey“ (https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com)
- „Unsuspected mobility of Arctic hares revealed by longest journey ever recorded in a lagomorph“ (https://www.researchgate.net)
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