Snowshoe Hare
(Lepus americanus)

The snowshoe hare lives in forests throughout much of the upper Great Lakes region. They prefer areas with thick underbrush because this provide both food and shelter. Although they don't dig their own burrows, they like to live these sheltered spots if they find ones created by other animals. They are nocturnal animals, spending the night and early morning eating.

The snowshoe hare is a grayish brown color during the Fall and Winter. When the days begin getting shorter, though, the hare sheds its outer fur and grows a new white coat. This adaptation helps it to blend into its surroundings in the Winter so that it can avoid predators like wolves and owls. It is an important part of the ecosystem.

The snowshoe hare has powerful hind legs. It can jump up to 10 feet and can run up to 27 miles per hour. Their feet are furry on the bottom to protect them from cold weather and to give them more traction on snow and ice. The hare's tracks are very recognizable in the snow and they often use the same path as many other mammals to move between their feeding area and their sleeping area.

During the summer, hares eat all kinds of grasses and plants. In the winter, their diet consists mainly of small twigs and bark, especially from birch, maple, and jack pine. Because hare populations can increase so quickly (they may have 3-5 litters per year), they can often become pests for humans. Gardens and newly planted trees are especially popular. In areas where fire has happened recently, hare populations can flourish because of new growth.

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