Details
Lepus timidus
Mountain hare is a hare of cold regions and mountains, with many populations turning white in winter. Mismatch between snow cover and coat color can affect visibility to predators.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It ranges across northern Eurasian forests, tundra, grasslands, and mountains. Main habitat types in this guide are forest, grassland, mountain, polar.
Typical length 45-65 cm, weight 2.5 kg-5.3 kg. Long hind legs and a short tail are typical; brown summer fur may be replaced by white winter fur.
It is most active around dawn and dusk and usually solitary. It is usually solitary, moving between open feeding areas and cover and fleeing rapidly when alarmed.
It is herbivorous. Grasses, herbs, buds, bark, and twigs are used according to season.
Females give birth in shallow ground forms, and young are born furred and open-eyed.
Although still widespread in places, it remains sensitive to habitat change. Mismatch between snow cover and coat color can affect visibility to predators.
