Table of Contents
Arctic Hare Facts
Can Arctic hare swim?
Arctic hares avoid predators by being very fast runners and fairly good swimmers. They can hop away from danger while standing on their hind legs.
What can Arctic hare do?
Arctic hares can run up to 40 miles per hour!
It is also capable of hopping on its rear legs the way a kangaroo does, moving at speeds of as much as 30 miles per hour (48.3 km/h) as it hops. When running with all four feet on the ground they can reach 40 miles per hour (64.4 km/h).
How high can an Arctic hare jump?
They can reach speeds of up to 64 kilometers per hour, which is comparable to the speed of a car. With their strong hind legs, they can leap two meters into the air, which means they could jump over the heads of many people if they chose to.
What do Arctic hares get eaten by?
Known predators of the Arctic hare are the Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus), Red fox (Vulpes vulpes), Wolf (Canis lupus), Mountain lion (Puma concolor), Lynx (Lynx canadensis), Ermine (Mustela erminea), Snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus), Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), Rough-legged hawk (Buteo lagopus) and occasionally humans.
What are baby Arctic hares called?
The baby of an Arctic Hare is called a leveret. The leverets weigh 3.7 oz at birth. The leverets’ fur has more black color than gray in the summer.
Do arctic hares hibernate?
The arctic hare lives in the harsh environment of the North American tundra. These hares do not hibernate, but survive the dangerous cold with a number of behavioral and physiological adaptations.
How big is an Arctic hare?
How fast can an Arctic hare run?
How does the Arctic hare survive?
The Arctic hare is a species of hare that is adapted to icy biomes, particularly the Arctic tundra. It survives the harsh climate thanks to its shortened limbs and ears, tiny nose, a thick coat, a body that is 20% fat, and its ability to dig holes beneath the snow to escape the cold wind.
Are arctic hares carnivores?
Can arctic hares be pets?
Arctic hares are not kept as pets. As such, they are not available to purchase and cannot be found online. They can be sponsored through various animal welfare societies, although they are in the least risk category of conservation status.
How does an Arctic hare protect itself from predators?
When arctic hares spy predators, they use their white camouflage as their first defense. They freeze and wait until they are spotted before trying to run to safety.
How are Arctic hares affected by climate change?
But as the climate warms, hares may no longer be able to stay in sync with their environment, according to a new study. The animals will be switching from earthy brown to snowy white or vice versa at the wrong time and becoming targets for hungry predators.
Why do Arctic hares turn white in winter?
To blend in with the ground in the warmer months, snowshoe hares sport brown fur. In the winter, they turn white to camouflage with the snow. It’s harder for predators to spot an animal that matches the background in all seasons.
What do arctic hares eat facts for kids?
Arctic Hares are herbivores. They eat the leaves of the various shrubs that manage to grow in this harsh environment. The Dwarf Willow a tiny, woody plant that has adapted to Arctic environments forms 95% of their diet. Arctic Hares also eat mosses, lichens and even carrion such as fish and caribou.
How do arctic hares change color?
Several species of haresincluding the Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus), the mountain hare (L. timidus), and the snowshoe hare (L. americanus)turn from brown or grayish to white in the winter. The color change is thought to be at least partially linked to photoperiodthat is, the amount of light received during the day.
How do Arctic hares move?
Arctic hare has very large hind feet which facilitate movement across the snow (they act like snowshoes). Front feet are equipped with long claws which are used for digging of burrows in the ground and finding food hidden below the snow.
Where is the Arctic hares habitat?
The Arctic hare lives in the tundra and in rocky mountainous areas.
Are Arctic hares omnivores?
What does a hare live in?
Hares primarily live in open fields with scattered brush for shelter. They live in simple nests above the ground rather than in a burrow and usually do not live in groups. They are seen less frequently where foxes are abundant or where there are many buzzards.
Why do Arctic hares have strong claws?
Arctic hares have large back feet that act like snowshoes and keep them from sinking in the snow. Their front feet have long, strong claws that help them dig beneath the snow to find food. Arctic hares have a great sense of smell that helps them find mosses and lichens underneath the snow.
What color is a hare?
Mountain hare has pale grey body colour in summer, or white in winter, with tail all white, whilst brown hare is brown with orange/brown sides all year round and a black top to the tail. Rabbit is smaller than the brown hare, with shorter limbs. Ears are shorter and lack the black tips that the brown hare has.
How big can a hare grow?
Hares are the physically largest animals in the order of Lagomorphs. They are even larger than the closely related rabbits and the pikas. Measuring about 16 to 28 inches from head to tail, they are a little larger than the typical house cat. The body is complemented with 6-inch feet and 8-inch ears.
