PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Arctic Hare, also known as the snowshoe hare, is about 25 inches tall, and weighs approximately 9 to 12 pounds.

It is brown in the summer and is white in the winter.  The tips of the ears are black all year round.

The Arctic Hare has rather short ears compared to other rabbits and hare species.
 

HABITAT AND LIFE CYCLE

The Arctic Hare eats mostly willow leaves, shoots, bark and roots.  It also feeds on grass, flowers and crowberries.

The Arctic Hare can be found throughout northern Canada and Greenland.  A different kind of Arctic Hare also lives in Alaska.

The young of a hare are born in groups of 4 to 8, and are born with fur and with opened eyes.  This is what makes them different from rabbits.  The baby rabbit is blind until it is over a week old, and grows its hair very slowly from birth.  By the time the rabbit is ready to leave the nest, the hare has already left a long time ago.
 

Page last updated on September 6, 2001