Mountain Hare
Lepus timidus
They undergo a complete color change twice a year, molting from a summer brown to a snowy white winter coat to stay camouflaged.
- Scientific name
- Lepus timidus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Mammalia › Lagomorpha › Leporidae › Lepus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- decreasing
- Biome
- tundra
- Habitat
- Alpine tundra, moorlands, and boreal forests
- Diet
- Grasses, herbs, heather, bark, and twigs
- Range
- Scandinavia, Russia, Scotland, Alps, Ireland
- Size
- 45-60 cm long, 2-5 kg
- Lifespan
- 3-4 years
- Active
- crepuscular
- Threats
- Climate change reducing snow cover duration, habitat fragmentation, and competition with European hares.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless but skittish. Observe from a distance of at least 20 meters. Do not attempt to catch or corner it; while not aggressive, it can deliver a powerful kick if handled.
The mountain hare ( Lepus timidus ), also known as blue hare , tundra hare , variable hare , white hare , snow hare, alpine hare , and Irish hare , is a Palearctic hare that is largely adapted to polar and mountainous habitats.
Photo: Andrew, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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