One of the 8 hares on WAnimals
Mammals · Lagomorpha · Leporidae
Mountain Hare
Lepus timidus
Least Concern
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk.
The mountain hare, also called the variable hare, owes that name to the seasonal change in its coat: greyish brown in summer and white in winter, except for the tips of the ears, which stay black. It ranges from Scandinavia and Siberia to relict populations in the Alps, Scotland and Ireland. Its very broad, hairy hind feet work as snowshoes. Climate change threatens it in a peculiar way: in winters without snow its white coat leaves it completely exposed.
Weight
2 kg – 5.8 kg
Size
45 cm – 65 cm
Life expectancy
9 years
