The Snow Shoe Hare

The snowshoe hare is a mammal. The snowshoe hare changes its coat twice a year. The brown summer coat is replaced with white-tipped hair. This process lasts up to three months. The reverse process begins in March when the hare's hair starts turning brown. Compared to a rabbit the hare has much longer legs and ears. In North America hares are called rabbits so most people think there is no such thing as a hare here.

The hare moves with its very large hind feet. They can hop and run, most times faster than rabbits.

The preferred habitat for a snowshoe hare is the northern and alpine forests, swamps, and brushy shelters. They use the brushy area for hiding from their predators. They build underground burrows called "warrens." Usually they are dug on sandy soil or on dry hillsides. The snowshoe hare has more exits from its warren than just one. It has adapted to this habitat very well; they know where everything is around them such as predators, food, and the lay of the land. They know how to hide from predators and where every entrance or exit of their burrow is.

A green plant is the hare's favorite meal, but if the hare can't find a green plant then it will eat twigs and branches.

The enemies of the hare are eagles, hawks, wolves, foxes, coyotes, snakes, and humans.

They rest in thick cover during the day. Their color hides them and where they hide they look camouflaged. Its whereabouts may be revealed by its tracks. The babies stay protected the same way, but they have another way too. It is by staying in the burrows and if they have a predator enter, the mother will take them through another exit of their burrow. The mother leads the enemies away from her burrow's exit. Most hares communicate by rubbing noses or by making a real loud nose which most people call a squeal. They do this when they think they are in danger.

They live to be from two to five years old. They can grow rapidly and learn where the food is. In five months they usually are full grown hares.

Hares do have seasonal changes. Such as in the summer their coat is brown and in the winter it is white. There diet also changes with the changes in the weather.