Snowshoe hare

Lepus americanus

A North American hare of boreal forests, with large hind feet for snow and a coat that changes color with the seasons.

Key facts

Snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) is a herbivore animal classified as Mammal · Lagomorpha · Leporidae.
Primary habitats are forest · polar · grassland, with a range across Nearctic.
Activity is nocturnal, sociality is solitary, and conservation status is LC (Least Concern).
A North American hare of boreal forests, with large hind feet for snow and a coat that changes color with the seasons.
Lives in boreal forest, young conifers, dense shrub edges, and wet woods with thick understory cover.

Habitat range map

Native rangeOccasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Lives in boreal forest, young conifers, dense shrub edges, and wet woods with thick understory cover.

The coat is brown in summer and white in winter across much of the range. Large furred hind feet and black ear tips are distinctive.

Mostly nocturnal, it follows runways through cover. Populations fluctuate strongly in cycles linked with predators.

Herbs, leaves, and shoots are eaten in summer, while twigs, bark, and conifer foliage are browsed in winter.

Young are born in shallow ground forms. They are furred at birth and can move independently soon afterward.

Globally low-risk; changing snow seasons can increase mismatch between white winter coats and darker ground.