Field Guide/Mammals/Snowshoe Hare

Lepus americanus (Snowshoe Hare)
Family: Leporidae Size: Total length: 20 in. (508 mm.). Tail Length: 2 in. (50.8 mm.). Weight: 3 lbs. (1.36 kg). ^[1] Description: The Snowshoe Hare is a medium-sized rabbit. It has a brown coat in the summer, and a white coat during the winter. ^[1] The soles of its hind legs are densely furred and large, forming the characteristic snowshoe. ^[2] Similar Species: The Snowshoe Hare is similar to but slightly taller than the Eastern Cottontail Rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus).^[1] Range: Northern species found as far north as Alaska and over most of Canada. ^[1] Habitat: Dense woodlands and forest bogs. ^[1] Open fields, fence rows, and coniferous lowlands. ^[2] Diet: Grass, clover, and ferns in the summer. Bark and twigs in the winter. ^[1] Also eat their own feces. ^[2] Activity: Nocturnal. ^[3] Most active during dawn and dusk during periods of low light. Sleep and groom throughout the day. ^[2] Reproduction: Mates in February through July. Gestation period of 36 days. Typical litter size of 4 (3-4 litters per year). ^[1] Weaned at 14-28 days. Polygynandrous (males and females both have multiple mates). ^[2] Lifespan: 5 years in the wild. Up to 85% do not live longer than 1 year. ^[2] Notes: Much of the Snowshoe Hare’s digestion occurs in the hindgut. Therefore, to extract all of the available nutrients they will often eat their own feces to cycle their food through a second time. The Snowshoe Hare can run up to 27 MPH and leap 10 ft. in a single bound. ^[2] Common predators include Coyotes (Canis latrans) Lynxes (Lynx lynx), Snowy Owls (Bubo scandiacus), and Red-Tailed Hawks (Butao jamaicensis). ^[1] Snowshow Hare’s are accomplished swimmers and often swim to escape prey (2). Snowshoe Hares have very dramatic population fluctuations over 10-year cycles thought to be accredited to over-grazing. Females are typically larger than males. ^[4]	Snowshoe Hare Lepus americanus

Lepus americanus (Snowshoe Hare)

Family: Leporidae

Size: Total length: 20 in. (508 mm.). Tail Length: 2 in. (50.8 mm.). Weight: 3 lbs. (1.36 kg). ^[1]

Description: The Snowshoe Hare is a medium-sized rabbit. It has a brown coat in the summer, and a white coat during the winter. ^[1] The soles of its hind legs are densely furred and large, forming the characteristic snowshoe. ^[2]

Similar Species: The Snowshoe Hare is similar to but slightly taller than the Eastern Cottontail Rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus).^[1]

Range: Northern species found as far north as Alaska and over most of Canada. ^[1]

Habitat: Dense woodlands and forest bogs. ^[1] Open fields, fence rows, and coniferous lowlands. ^[2]

Diet: Grass, clover, and ferns in the summer. Bark and twigs in the winter. ^[1] Also eat their own feces. ^[2]

Activity: Nocturnal. ^[3] Most active during dawn and dusk during periods of low light. Sleep and groom throughout the day. ^[2]

Reproduction: Mates in February through July. Gestation period of 36 days. Typical litter size of 4 (3-4 litters per year). ^[1] Weaned at 14-28 days. Polygynandrous (males and females both have multiple mates). ^[2]

Lifespan: 5 years in the wild. Up to 85% do not live longer than 1 year. ^[2]

Notes: Much of the Snowshoe Hare’s digestion occurs in the hindgut. Therefore, to extract all of the available nutrients they will often eat their own feces to cycle their food through a second time. The Snowshoe Hare can run up to 27 MPH and leap 10 ft. in a single bound. ^[2]

Common predators include Coyotes (Canis latrans) Lynxes (Lynx lynx), Snowy Owls (Bubo scandiacus), and Red-Tailed Hawks (Butao jamaicensis). ^[1]

Snowshow Hare’s are accomplished swimmers and often swim to escape prey (2). Snowshoe Hares have very dramatic population fluctuations over 10-year cycles thought to be accredited to over-grazing. Females are typically larger than males. ^[4]

Snowshoe Hare Lepus americanus

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (2012), Lepus americanus
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Shefferly, N. (2007), Lepus americanus
↑ Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (2012), Lepus americanus
↑ Ruland, C. (2012), Lepus americanus

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