Common Name:
Snowshoe hare
Scientific Name:
Lepus americanus
Unique Qualities:
When they are born, snowshoe hares are open-eyed, fully furred and can hop around almost immediately. Hares are unique from rabbits in that aspect because young rabbits are born blind and without fur.
Can be Seen:
The snowshoe hare is only found in North America. They range throughout much of the Boreal Forest, along the Appalachian Mountains in the east and the Rocky Mountains in the west. To the north, they hang out near the Arctic Ocean in the marshes of the Mackenzie River delta.
Likes to Hang Out:
The snowshoe hare really likes wooded forests with coniferous trees. In the daytime, they rest or hide in low vegetation, inside hollow logs or abandoned animal burrows. Late at night, snowshoe hares roam along low vegetation in search of dinner.
Likes to Eat:
Snowshoe hares eat a variety of plants during summer, including vetch, strawberry, raspberry, and fireweed. Their winter diet consists of small twigs, buds and bark.
Status:
The snowshoe hare is not listed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). From that, it can be assumed that either its population is healthy or their populations have not been counted yet.
