Larger than rabbits, with longer hind legs and ears. Have especially large, furry feet which help with staying active in the winter. Most have a white winter coat that turns brown in the spring during snow melt, with the exception of snowshoe hares in Olympic National Park, which stay brown all year. Solitary, other than when breeding, often resting during the day.

Breeding season is typically February to August, with young being born from May to August. Litter size ranges from 1 to 6, with an average of 3. Life span is about two years, but ranges up to six years. Summer diet consists of grasses and other greens; winter diet includes twigs, bark and buds.

Prefer coniferous and mixed forests with abundant understory. Nest in hollow logs or ground depressions; underground burrows are usually avoided.

The range of Lepus americanus is in the western and northeastern United States and most of Canada.

In the Southwest region the population is vulnerable; in the Northwest region they are secure; the population in the East ranges from critically imperiled to secure.

The Snowshoe Hare is broadly distributed in the north from coast to coast and occurs in a variety of habitat types, including swamps, hardwood forests, and mixed and evergreen forests. Nocturnal like most members of the family, this hare consistently travels along the same runways and tends to remain hidden in vegetation until sundown. It is active year round and can have two to five litters per year, each producing one to eight offspring. Their populations fluctuate radically over 10-year cycles, which is probably because of changes in food supply: the hare population grows, they over-graze, and starvation follows. True to its name, the Snowshoe Hare has large feet padded by dense spiraling hairs, each acting like a spring. Most Snowshoe Hares change color, from a summer brown coat to winter white, offering camouflage in each season.

Links:
Mammal Species of the World

Snowshoe hares occur from Newfoundland east to western Alaska; south in
the Sierra Nevada to central California; in the Rocky Mountains to
southern Utah and northern New Mexico; and in the Appalachian Mountains
to North Carolina and Tennessee [9,18,20,38].

Locations of subspecies are as follows [38]:

Lepus americanus americanus - Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta,
  Montana, and North Dakota
L. a. cascadensis - British Columbia and Washington
L. a. columbiensis - British Columbia, Alberta, and Washington
L. a.  dalli - Mackenzie District, British Columbia, Alaska, Yukon
  Territory
L. a. klamathensis - Oregon and California
L. a. oregonus - Oregon
L. a. pallidus - British Columbia
L. a. phaeonotus - Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Michigan, Wisconsin, and
  Minnesota
L. a. pineus - British Columbia, Idaho, and Washington
L. a. seclusus - Wyoming
L. a. struthopus - Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward
  Island, Quebec, and Maine
L. a. tahoensis - California, western Nevada
L. a. virginianus - Ontario, Quebec, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont,
  Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Tennessee
L. a. washingtonii - British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon

More info on this topic.

This species can be found in the following regions of the western United States (according to the Bureau of Land Management classification of Physiographic Regions of the western United States):

    1  Northern Pacific Border
    2  Cascade Mountains
    4  Sierra Mountains
    5  Columbia Plateau
    8  Northern Rocky Mountains
    9  Middle Rocky Mountains
   10  Wyoming Basin
   11  Southern Rocky Mountains
   12  Colorado Plateau
   15  Black Hills Uplift
   16  Upper Missouri Basin and Broken Lands

AK	AR	CA	CO	CT	ID	KY	ME	MD	MA
MI	MN	MT	NV	NH	NM	NY	NC	ND	OR
PA	RI	SD	TN	UT	VT	VA	WA	WV	WI	WY
AB	BC	MB	NB	NF	NT	NS	ON	PE	PQ
SK	YK

Snowshoe hares are found throughout Canada and in the northernmost United States. The range extends south along the Sierras, Rockies, and Appalachian mountain ranges.

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )

Lepus americanus appears in boreal and mixed deciduous forests of North America. It occurs in all provinces of Canada, except Nunavut. In the USA it is present in Alaska, as well as the western mountain states of Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota, and Colorado, and small pockets in high elevation areas in New Mexico, Utah, and California. Its distribution also includes the Great Lakes region and eastern states of Pennsylvania, New York, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. Historically in mountain portions of West Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, but those populations seem to have declined recently.

Snowshoe hares are found throughout Canada and in the northernmost United States. The range extends south along the Sierras, Rockies, and Appalachian mountain ranges.

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: Sierra Nevada (California/Nevada), Rocky Mountains (to south-central Utah and north-central New Mexico), northern Great Lakes region, and New England north through most of Canada and Alaska. Scattered populations occur in the Appalachian Mountains south to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Introduced and established in forested areas of Newfoundland and Anacosti Island.

Snowshoe hares range in length from 413 to 518 mm, of which 39 to 52 mm are tail. The hind foot, long and wide, measures 117 to 147 mm in length. The ears are 62 to 70 mm from base to tip. Snowshoe hares usually weigh between 1.43 and 1.55 kg. Males are slightly smaller than females, as is typical for leporidae. In the summer, the coat is a rusty or grayish brown, with a blackish line down the middle of the back, buffy sides and a white belly. The face and legs are cinnamon brown. The ears are brownish with black tips and white or creamy borders. During the winter, the fur is almost entirely white, except for black eyelids and the blackened tips on the ears. The bottoms of the feet are covered with thick fur, with stiff hairs (forming the snowshoe) on the hind feet.

Range mass: 1.43 to 1.55 kg.

Range length: 413 to 518 mm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: female larger

Average basal metabolic rate: 6.708 W.

Snowshoe hares range in length from 413 to 518 mm, of which 39 to 52 mm are tail. The hind foot, long and broad, measures 117 to 147 mm in length. The ears are 62 to 70 mm from notch to tip. Snowshoe hares usually weigh between 1.43 and 1.55 kg. Males are slightly smaller than females, as is typical for leporids. In the summer, the coat is a grizzled rusty or grayish brown, with a blackish middorsal line, buffy flanks and a white belly. The face and legs are cinnamon brown. The ears are brownish with black tips and white or creamy borders. During the winter, the fur is almost entirely white, except for black eyelids and the blackened tips on the ears. The soles of the feet are densely furred, with stiff hairs (forming the snowshoe) on the hind feet.

Range mass: 1.43 to 1.55 kg.

Range length: 413 to 518 mm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: female larger

Average basal metabolic rate: 6.708 W.

Length: 52 cm

Weight: 1400 grams

Sexual Dimorphism: Females are larger than males.

Length:
Average: 450 mm
Range: 363-520 mm

Weight:
Average: 1,300 g males; 1,500 g females
Range: 900-1,700 g males; 900-2,200 g females

More info for the terms: cover, density

Snowshoe hares require dense, brushy, usually coniferous cover; thermal
and escape cover are especially important for young snowshoe hares
[20,35].  Low brush provides hiding, escape, and thermal cover.  Heavy
cover 10 feet (3 m) above ground provides protection from avian
predators, and heavy cover 3.3 feet (1 m) tall provides cover from
terrestrial predators [16].  Overwinter survival of snowshoe hares
increases with increased cover [51].  A wide variety of habitat types
are used if cover is available.  Base visibility in good snowshoe hare
habitat ranges from 2 percent at 16.5 feet (5 m) distance to 0 percent
at 66 feet (20 m).  Travel cover is slightly more open, ranging from
14.7 percent visibility at 16.5 feet (5 m) to 2.6 percent at 66 feet (20
m) [16].  Wolfe and others [81] reported that areas with horizontal
vegetation density of 40 to 100 percent at 50 feet (15 m) are adequate
snowshoe hare habitat in Utah [80].

More info for the terms: cover, density, presence, succession

A habitat suitability index model for snowshoe hare was summarized by
Carreker [16].  Major variables in habitat quality include average
visual obstruction and browse biomass.  Snowshoe hares prefer young
forests with abundant understories.  The presence of cover is the
primary determinant of habitat quality for snowshoe hares and is more
significant than food availability [16] or species composition [19,51].
Species composition does, however, influence population density; dense
softwood understories support greater snowshoe hare density than
hardwoods because of cover quality.  In Maine it was observed that
female snowshoe hares were more common on sites with less cover but more
nutritious forage; males tended to be found on sites with heavier cover
[50].

Winter browse availability depends on height of understory brush and
winter snow depth; 6- to 8-foot tall (1.8-2.4 m) saplings with narrow
stem diameters are required for winter browse in heavy snow [81].

In northern regions snowshoe hares occupy conifer and mixed forests in
all stages of succession, but early successional forests foster peak
abundance.  Deciduous forests are usually occupied only in early stages
of succession [36].  In New England snowshoe hares preferred
second-growth deciduous, coniferous, and mixed woods with dense brushy
understories; snowshoe hares appear to prefer shrubby old-field areas,
early- to mid-successional burns, shrub-swamps, bogs, and upper montane
krumholz vegetation [21].  In Maine snowshoe hares were more active in
clearcut areas than in partially cut or uncut areas.  Sapling densities
were highest on 12- to 15-year-old plots; these plots were used more
than younger stands [55].  In northern Utah snowshoe hares occupied all
the later stages of succession on quaking aspen and spruce-fir but were
not observed in meadows [66].  In Alberta snowshoe hares use upland
shrub-sapling stages of regenerating aspens (either postfire or
postharvest) [82].  In British Columbia overstocked juvenile lodgepole
pine (Pinus contorta) stands formed optimal snowshoe hare habitat [72].

In western Washington most unburned, burned, or scarified clearcuts will
normally be fully occupied by snowshoe hares within 4 to 5 years as
vegetation becomes dense [15].  In older stands (more than 25 years)
stem density begins to decline and cover for snowshoe hares decreases
[46].  However, in north-central Washington snowshoe hares may not
colonize clearcuts until 6 or 7 years and it may take 20 to 25 years for
snowshoe hare density to reach maximum [6].  Winter snowshoe hare pellet
counts were highest in 20-year-old lodgepole pine stands, lower in older
lodgepole stands, and lowest in spruce-dominated stands [46].  In
western Oregon snowshoe hares were abundant only in early successional
stages including stable brushfields [2].  In west-central Oregon an
old-growth Douglas-fir forest was clearcut and monitored through 10
years of succession.  A few snowshoe hares were noted in adjacent virgin
forest plots; they represented widely scattered, sparse populations.
One snowshoe hare was observed on the disturbed plot 2.5 years after it
had been clearcut and burned; at this stage ground cover was similar to
that of the uncut forest.  By 9 years after disturbance snowshoe hare
density had increased markedly [33].

Slope and Aspect:  In western Washington snowshoe hares routinely used
steep slopes where cover was adequate; most studies, however, suggest
that snowshoe hares tend to prefer gentle slopes [15].

Moonlight increases snowshoe hare vulnerability to predation,
particularly in winter.  Gilbert and Boutin [34] presented some evidence
that snowshoe hares tend to avoid open areas during bright phases of the
moon and during bright periods of a single night.  Snowshoe hare
activity usually shifts from coniferous understories in winter to
hardwood understories in summer [56].

Home Range:  Vegetative structure plays an important role in the size of
snowshoe hare home ranges.  Snowshoe hares wander up to 5 miles (8 km)
when food is scarce [3].  In Montana home ranges are smaller in brushy
woods than in open woods [1].  In Colorado and Utah the average home
range of both sexes was 20 acres (8.1 ha) [25].  On Montreal Island of
Quebec, the average daily range for both sexes was 4 acres (1.6 ha) in
old-field mixed woods [8].  In Montana the home range averaged 25 acres
(10 ha) for males and 19 acres (7.6 ha) for females [1].  In Oregon the
average snowshoe hare home range was 14.6 acres (5.9 ha) [58].

More info for the terms: shrub, shrubs, vine

Snowshoe hares are primarily found in boreal forests and upper montane
forests; within these forests they favor habitats with a dense shrub
layer.  In the Pacific Northwest snowshoe hares occupy diverse habitats
including mature conifers (mostly Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii]
and variants), immature conifers, alder (Alnus spp.)/salmonberry (Rubus
spectabilis), Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis)/salal (Gaultheria
shallon), and cedar (Thuja spp.) swamps [53].  In western Oregon
snowshoe hares were present in brush patches of vine maple (Acer
circinatum), willows (Salix spp.), rhododendrons (Rhododendron spp.),
and other shrubs [2].

In Utah snowshoe hares used Gambel oak (Quercus gambelli) in the
northern portion of the Gambel oak range [39].

In the Southwest the southernmost populations of snowshoe hares occur in
the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, New Mexico, in subalpine scrub:  narrow
bands of shrubby and prostrate conifers at and just below timberline
that is usually composed of Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii),
bristlecone pine (Pinus aristata), limber pine (P. flexilis), and/or
common juniper (Juniperus communis) [12].

In Minnesota snowshoe hares use jack pine (P. banksiana) uplands, edges,
tamarack (Larix laricina) bogs, black spruce (Picea mariana) bogs, and
sedge (Carex spp.), alder, and scrub fens [62].

In New England snowshoe hares favor second-growth aspen (Populus
spp.)-birch (Betula spp.) near conifers, but other forest types occupied
by snowshoe hares include aspens, paper birch (B. papyrifera), northern
hardwoods, red maple (A. rubrum), balsam fir (Abies balsamea), red
spruce (Picea rubens)-balsam fir, eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis),
northern red oak (Quercus rubra), oak (Quercus spp.)-pine (Pinus spp.),
eastern white pine (P. strobus)-northern red oak-red maple, and eastern
white pine.  Snowshoe hares also use shrub swamps dominated by
buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), alders, and silky dogwood
(Cornus ammomum) [20,21].  Further details on plant communities used by
snowshoe hares in different regions are in Bittner and Rongstad [9].

More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in association with the following Rangeland Cover Types (as classified by the Society for Range Management, SRM):

   203  Riparian woodland
   409  Tall forb
   411  Aspen woodland
   421  Chokecherry-serviceberry-rose

More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in association with the following cover types (as classified by the Society of American Foresters):

     1  Jack pine
     5  Balsam fir
    12  Black spruce
    13  Black spruce-tamarack
    15  Red pine
    16  Aspen
    17  Pin cherry
    18  Paper birch
    19  Gray birch-red maple
    20  White pine-northern red oak-red maple
    21  Eastern white pine
    22  White pine-hemlock
    23  Eastern hemlock
    24  Hemlock-yellow birch
    25  Sugar maple-beech-yellow birch
    30  Red spruce-yellow birch
    31  Red spruce-sugar maple-beech
    32  Red spruce
    33  Red spruce-balsam fir
    34  Red spruce-Fraser fir
    35  Paper birch-red spruce-balsam fir
    37  Northern white-cedar
    38  Tamarack
    51  White pine-chestnut oak
   107  White spruce
   201  White spruce
   202  White spruce-paper birch
   204  Black spruce
   205  Mountain hemlock
   206  Engelmann spruce-subalpine fir
   207  Red fir
   208  Whitebark pine
   209  Bristlecone pine
   210  Interior Douglas-fir
   212  Western larch
   216  Blue spruce
   218  Lodgepole pine
   219  Limber pine
   217  Aspen
   221  Red alder
   223  Sitka spruce
   224  Western hemlock
   225  Western hemlock-Sitka spruce
   226  Coastal true fir-hemlock
   227  Western redcedar-western hemlock
   228  Western redcedar
   229  Pacific Douglas-fir
   230  Douglas-fir-western hemlock
   231  Port-Orford-cedar
   243  Sierra Nevada mixed conifer
   251  White spruce-aspen
   253  Black spruce-white spruce
   254  Black spruce-paper birch
   252  Paper birch
   256  California mixed subalpine

More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in association with the following plant community types (as classified by Küchler 1964):

   K001  Spruce-cedar-hemlock forest
   K002  Cedar-hemlock-Douglas-fir forest
   K003  Silver fir-Douglas-fir forest
   K004  Fir-hemlock forest
   K008  Lodgepole pine-subalpine forest
   K012  Douglas-fir forest
   K015  Western spruce-fir forest
   K015  Western spruce-fir forest
   K014  Grand fir-Douglas-fir forest
   K020  Spruce-fir-Douglas-fir forest
   K022  Great Basin pine forest
   K028  Mosaic of K002 and K026
   K093  Great Lakes spruce-fir forest
   K094  Conifer bog
   K095  Great Lakes pine forest
   K096  Northeastern spruce-fir forest
   K097  Southeastern spruce-fir forest
   K099  Maple-basswood forest
   K102  Beech-maple forest
   K013  Cedar-hemlock-pine forest
   K016  Eastern ponderosa forest
   K017  Black Hills pine forest
   K018  Pine-Douglas-fir forest

More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in the following ecosystem types (as named by the U.S. Forest Service in their Forest and Range Ecosystem [FRES] Type classification):

FRES10 White-red-jack pine
FRES11 Spruce-fir
FRES18 Maple-beech-birch
FRES19 Aspen-birch
FRES20 Douglas-fir
FRES21 Ponderosa pine
FRES22 Western white pine
FRES23 Fir-spruce
FRES24 Hemlock-Sitka spruce
FRES25 Larch
FRES26 Lodgepole pine
FRES27 Redwood
FRES28 Western hardwoods

Snowshoe hares are most often found in open fields, fence rows, swamps, riverside thickets, cedar bogs and low areas with conifers.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: tundra ; taiga ; forest

Wetlands: swamp ; bog

Other Habitat Features: agricultural

Habitat and Ecology

Systems

• Terrestrial

Snowshoe hares are most often found in open fields, fence rows, swamps, riverside thickets, cedar bogs and coniferous lowlands.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: tundra ; taiga ; forest

Wetlands: swamp ; bog

Other Habitat Features: agricultural

Comments: Prefers the dense cover of coniferous and mixed forests; abundant understory cover is important. Coniferous swamps and second-growth areas that are adjacent to mature forests, and alder fens and conifer bogs, are also utilized. Often in ecotones. Rests in daytime in dense cover. Nesting places may be made in a ground depression or hollow log. Underground burrows generally are avoided. Litters stay at natal sites for up to a few days or a week, gradually range farther away.

Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Home ranges usually fairly small: about 10 hectares for males (Adams 1959); averaged 8 hectares in Colorado and Utah (Dolbeer and Clark 1975); averaged about 3-6 ha (ranged up to nearly 16 ha) during peak phase of population density in Yukon Territory (Burton and Krebs 2003).

Home range size varies with location and season; most studies indicate a home range size averaging 5-20 ha (Handley 1991). Male ranges average larger than those of females. In Yukon Territory, Canada, 18 natal dispersal distances ranged from 23 m to more than 16 km (all but two were less than 3 km) (Gillis and Krebs 1999).

More info for the terms: bog, cover, forbs

Snowshoe hares eat a variety of plant materials.  Forage type varies
with season.  Succulent green vegetation is consumed when available from
spring to fall; after the first frost buds, twigs, evergreen needles,
and bark form the bulk of snowshoe hare diets until spring greenup
[9,53].

Winter Foods:  Snowshoe hares prefer branches, twigs, and small stems up
to 0.25 inch (6.3 mm) diameter; larger stems are sometimes used in
winter [35].  In Yukon Territory snowshoe hares normally eat
fast-growing birches and willows and avoid spruce.  At high snowshoe
hare densities, however, the apical shoots of small spruce are eaten
[68].  The snowshoe hare winter diet is dominated by bog birch (Betula
glandulosa) which is preferred but not always available.  Greyleaf
willow (Salix glauca) is eaten most often when bog birch is not
available.  Buffaloberry (Shepherdia canadensis) is the fourth most
common diet item.  White spruce (Picea glauca) is eaten but not
preferred.  In Alaska spruce, willows, and alders comprise 75 percent of
snowshoe hare diets; spruce needles make up nearly 40 percent of the
diet [79].  In northwestern Oregon winter foods include needles and
tender bark of Sitka spruce, Douglas-fir, and western hemlock (Tsuga
heterophylla); leaves and green twigs of salal; buds, twigs, and bark of
willows; and green herbs [53].  In north-central Washington willows and
birches are not plentiful; snowshoe hares browse the tips of lodgepole
pine seedlings [47].  In Utah winter foods include Douglas-fir, willows,
snowberry (Symphoricarpos spp.), maples, and serviceberry (Amelanchier
spp.).  In Minnesota aspens, willows, hazelnut (Corylus spp.), ferns
(Pteridophyta spp.), birches, alders, sumacs (Rhus spp.), and
strawberries (Fragaria spp.) are winter foods.  In New York winter foods
include eastern white pine, red pine (Pinus resinosa), white spruce,
paper birch, and aspens [52].  In Ontario sugar maple (Acer saccharum),
striped maple (A. pensylvanicum), red maple, other deciduous species,
northern white-cedar (T.  occidentalis), balsam fir, beaked hazelnut (C.
cornuta), and buffaloberry were heavily barked [22].  In New Brunswick
snowshoe hares consumed northern white-cedar, spruces, American beech
(Fagus grandifolia), balsam fir, mountain maple (A.  spicatum), and many
other species of browse [74].  In Newfoundland paper birch is preferred
[24].  Further details on regional food preferences are summarized in
Bittner and Rongstad [9].

Spring, Summer, and Fall Foods:  In Alaska snowshoe hares consume new
leaves of blueberries (Vaccinium spp.), new shoots of field horsetails
(Equisetum arvense), and fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) in spring.
Grasses are not a major item due to low availability associated with
sites that have adequate cover.  In summer leaves of willows, black
spruce, birches, and bog Labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum) are also
consumed.  Black spruce is the most heavily used and the most common
species in the area.  Pen trials suggest that black spruce is not
actually preferred.  Roses (Rosa spp.) were preferred but a minor
dietary item as they were not common in the study area [79].  In
northwest Oregon summer foods include grasses, clovers (Trifolium spp.),
other forbs, and some woody plants including Sitka spruce, Douglas-fir,
and young leaves and twigs of salal [53].  In Minnesota aspens, willows,
grasses, birches, alders, sumacs, and strawberries are consumed when
green [52].  In Ontario summer diets consist of clovers, grasses, and
forbs [22].

The diet of snowshoe hares is variable. They eat many different kinds of grasses, small leafy plants, and flowers. The new growth of trembling aspen, birches and willows is also eaten. During the winter, snowshoe hares forage on buds, twigs, bark, and evergreens. They have been known to scavenge the remains of their own kind in the winter months. At all times, it is important for hares to eat a certain type of feces that they produce. Because much of the digestion of food occurs in the last portion of their gut, in order to get all of the available nutrients from their food, they must cycle it through their digestive system a second time.

Animal Foods: carrion

Plant Foods: leaves; wood, bark, or stems; flowers

Other Foods: dung

The diet of snowshoe hares is variable. They browse on green grasses, forbs, bluegrass, brome, vetches, asters, jewelweed, wild strawberry, pussy-toes, dandelions, clovers, daisies and horsetails. The new growth of trembling aspen, birches and willows is also eaten. During the winter, snowshoe hares forage on buds, twigs, bark, and evergreens. They have been known to cannibalize the remains of dead conspecifics in winter months. At all times, it is important for hares to reingest certain feces. Because much of the digestion of food occurs in their hindguts, in order to extract all of the available nutrients from their food, they must cycle it through their digestive system a second time.

Animal Foods: carrion

Plant Foods: leaves; wood, bark, or stems; flowers

Other Foods: dung

Primary Diet: herbivore (Folivore )

Comments: In summer, eats succulent vegetation. In winter, diet consists of twigs, buds, bark of small trees. Also coprophagous.

The snowshoe hare is a major prey item for a number of predators.  Major
predators include lynx (Lynx lynx), bobcats (L. rufus), fishers (Martes
pennanti), American martens (M. americana), long-tailed weasels (Mustela
frenata), minks (M. vison), foxes (Vulpes and Urocyon spp.), coyote
(Canis latrans), domestic dogs (C. familiaris), mountain lions (Felis
concolor), domestic cats (F. catus), great horned owls (Bubo
virginianus), barred owls (Strix varia), spotted owls (S.
occidentalis), other owls, red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis),
northern goshawks (Accipiter gentilis), other hawks (Buteonidae), golden
eagles (Aquila chryseatos), and crows and ravens (Corvidae)
[9,16,35,53,59,75].  Other predators include northern short-tailed
shrews (Blarina brevicaula) and black bears (Ursus americanus) [9,75].
In Glacier National Park snowshoe hares are a prey item of Rocky
Mountain wolves (Canis lupus irremotus) [40].

Snowshoe hares are important prey animals in their ecosystem.

Snowshoe hares are experts at escaping predators. Young hares often "freeze" in their tracks when they sense a predator nearby. They are trying to escape notice by blending in with their background. Given the hare's background-matching coloration, this strategy is quite effective. Older hares are more likely to escape predators by fleeing. At top speed, a snowshoe hare can travel up to 27 mile per hour. An adult hare can cover up to 10 feet in a single bound. In addition to high speeds, hares use skillful changes in direction and vertical leaps, which may cause a predator to misjudge the exact position of the animal from one moment to the next.

Important predators of snowshoe hares include Urocyon cinereoargenteus, vulpes vulpes, canis latrans, Canis lupus, Lynx canadensis, Lynx rufus and mustela vison.

Known Predators:

• coyotes (Canis_latrans)
• wolves (Canis_lupus)
• lynx (Lynx_canadensis)
• bobcats (Lynx_rufus)
• mink (Mustela_vison)
• red foxes (Vulpes_vulpes)
• grey foxes (Urocyon_cinereoargenteus)

Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic

Snowshoe hares are important prey animals in their ecosystem.

Snowshoe hares are experts at escaping predators. Young hares often "freeze" in their tracks when they are alerted to the presence of a predator. Presumably, they are attempting to escape notice by being cryptic. Given the hare's background-matching coloration, this strategy is quite effective. Older hares are more likely to escape predators by fleeing. At top speed, a snowshoe hare can travel up to 27 mile per hour. An adult hare can cover up to 10 feet in a single bound. In addition to high speeds, hares employ skillful changes in direction and vertical leaps, which may cause a predator to misjudge the exact position of the animal from one moment to the next.

Important predators of snowshoe hares include gray foxes, red foxes, coyotes, wolves, lynx, bobcats and mink.

Known Predators:

• coyotes (Canis latrans)
• wolves (Canis lupus)
• lynx (Lynx canadensis)
• bobcats (Lynx rufus)
• mink (Neovison vison)
• red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)
• grey foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)

Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic

Lepus americanus (snowshoe rabbit) is prey of:
Accipiter gentilis
Bubo virginianus
Acari

Based on studies in:
Canada: Manitoba (Forest)

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

Lepus americanus (snowshoe rabbit) preys on:
Corylus
Prunus
Amelanchier
Symphoricarpos

Based on studies in:
Canada: Manitoba (Forest)

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

More info for the terms: cover, fire suppression, forbs, frequency, prescribed fire, shrubs

Nearly every plant that is important to snowshoe hares is favored by
fire:  jack pine, lodgepole pine, black spruce, quaking aspen, birches,
blueberries, fireweed, eastern white pine, white spruce, northern
white-cedar, tamarack, and eastern hemlock are all fire followers to
some extent and are used by snowshoe hares for food and/or cover [36].
Fire, even at moderatly long intervals, maintains a mosaic of
successional stages which provide good snowshoe hare habitat [65].  In
summer forbs and the leaves of shrubs are abundant and nutritious on
recently burned areas [45].  Snowshoe hares depend on small, new stems
which are available in large amounts on recently burned areas [36].  In
Alaska small fires or large fires with unburned areas of black spruce or
other heavy cover provide good to optimal habitat for snowshoe hares
[45].  In Alaska a 3-year-old burn provided willow browse for snowshoe
hares [78].  In north-central Washington fire suppression has limited
the amount of early-successional forest.  The prevalence of older,
suboptimal habitats does not provide enough browse for snowshoe hare
populations to sharply increase and therefore snowshoe hare populations
in the area are low but stable [46].

Periodic fire that results in an increase in dense, brushy cover is
beneficial to snowshoe hares.  In Minnesota a large prescribed fire set
in 1925 escaped and burned a few thousand acres.  The area was seeded in
by jack pine which, after eleven growing seasons, supported a large
snowshoe hare population [36].  Snowshoe hares populations have
increased after fire in Acadia National Park, Maine [60].

Areas that are burned frequently enough to reduce the height and density
of brushy cover would not be used much by snowshoe hares.  In
northwestern Minnesota mature quaking aspen stands were converted to
open brushlands with repeated prescribed fires over a 17-year period.
Study plots were burned in spring 1968, 1971, 1973, and 1975.  The
number of snowshoe hare pellets counted fluctuated with burning;
snowshoe hare pellets decreased immediately following fire and gradually
increased until the next fire.  After the fourth fire snowshoe hare
numbers and rate of increase were both very low [4].  Mean frequency of
snowshoe hare observations was higher on control areas (48%) than on
burned areas (33%).  After 1973 ground cover was sparse on burned areas
[5].

More info for the terms: crepuscular, ferns, litter, phase

Diurnal Activity:  Snowshoe hares are crepuscular to nocturnal.  They
are shy and secretive and spend most of the day in shallow depressions,
called forms, scraped out under clumps of ferns, brush thickets, and
downed piles of timber.  They occasionally use the large burrows of
mountain beavers (Aplodontia rufa) as forms.  Diurnal activity level
increases during the breeding season.  Juveniles are usually more active
and less cautious than adults [53].

Breeding Season:  Snowshoe hares are active year-round.  The breeding
season for hares is stimulated by new vegetation and varies with
latitude, location, and yearly events (such as weather conditions and
phase of showshoe hare population cycle) [9,35].  Breeding generally
begins in late December to January and lasts until July or August
[35,53].  In northwestern Oregon male peak breeding activity (as
determined by testes weight) occurs in May and is at the minimum in
November.  In Ontario the peak is in May and in Newfoundland the peak is
in June.  Female estrus begins in March in Newfoundland, Alberta, and
Maine, and in early April in Michigan and Colorado.  First litters of
the year are born from mid-April to May [9].

Gestation and Litter Size:  The gestation period is 35 to 40 days; most
studies report 37days as the average length of gestation.  Litters
average three to five leverets depending on latitude, elevation, and
phase of population cycle, ranging from one to seven [9,53].  Deep
snowpack increases the amount of upper-branch browse available to
snowshoe hares in winter and therefore has a positive relationship with
the nutritional status of breeding adults.  Litters are usually smaller
in the southern sections of snowshoe hare range since there is less
snow.  Newborn snowshoe hares are fully furred, open-eyed, and mobile.
They leave the natal form within a short time after birth, often within
24 hours.  After leaving the birthplace siblings stay near each other
during the day, gathering once each evening to nurse [9,53].  Weaning
occurs at 25 to 28 days except for the last litter of the season which
may nurse for 2 months or longer [64].

Pregnancy Rate and Productivity:  Female snowshoe hares can become
pregnant anytime after the 35th day of gestation.  The second litter can
therefore be conceived before the first litter is born (snowshoe hares
have twin uteri) [9].  Pregnancy rates ranged from 78 to 100 percent for
females during the period of first litter production, 82 to 100 percent
for second litters, and for the periods of third and fourth litters
pregnancy rates vary with population cycle [17].  In Newfoundland the
average number of litters per female per year ranged from 2.9 to 3.5,
and in Alberta the range was from 2.7 to 3.3 [9].  The number of litters
per year varies with phase of population cycle (see below).  In Alberta
the average number of litters per year was almost 3 just after a
population peak and 4 just after the population low [17].  Females
normally first breed as 1-year-olds.  Juvenile breeding is rare and has
only been observed in females from the first litter of the year and only
in years immediately following a low point in the population cycle [9].

Mortality:  In Yukon Territory 30-day survival of radio-tagged leverets
was 46 percent, 15 percent, and 43 percent for the first, second, and
third litter of the year, respectively.  There were no differences in
mortality in plots with food added.  The main proximate cause of
mortality was predation by small mammals including red squirrels
(Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) and arctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus
parryii).  Littermates tended to live or die together more often than by
chance.  Individual survival was negatively related to litter size and
positively related to body size at birth.  Litter size is negatively
correlated with body size at birth [57].

Population Cycles:  Northern populations of snowshoe hares undergo
cycles that range from 7 to 17 years between population peaks.  The
average time between peaks is approximately 10 years.  The period of
abundance usually lasts for 2 to 5 years followed by a population
decline to lower numbers or local scarcity.  Areas of great abundance
tend to be scattered [36,53].  Populations do not peak simultaneously in
all areas, although there is a great deal of synchronicity in northern
latitudes [3].  From 1931 to 1948 the cycle was synchronized within 1 or
2 years over most of Canada and Alaska, despite differences in predators
and food supplies [68].  In central Alberta low snowshoe hare density
occurred in 1965 with 42 to 74 snowshoe hares per 100 acres (40 ha).
The population peak occurred in November 1970 with 2,830 to 5,660
snowshoe hares per 100 acres (40 ha) [44].  In the southern parts of its
range snowshoe hare populations do not fluctuate radically [46].

Exclosure experiments in Alberta indicated that browsing by snowshoe
hares during population peaks has the greatest impact on palatable
species, thus further reducing the amount of available foods.  In this
study there was insufficient nutritious young browse available to
sustain the number of snowshoe hares present in the peak years (1971 and
1972) in winter [61].

Basically solitary except when breeding. In some areas, populations fluctuate widely over 10-11 year cycle. Densities may vary from 1 to several hundred per square mile (Keith and Windberg 1978). In Wisconsin, fall populations of less than 10 hares frequenting patches of prime habitat of less than 5 ha are not likely to persist long without ingress; in the same area, coyote predation was the overwhelming determinant of survival and population trend (Keith et al. 1993). See Sinclair et al. (1988) for recent data on population dynamics and food quality and supply.

Taken by many avian and mammalian predators, including ground squirrels and red squirrels (Yukon, O'Donoghue and Stuart 1993).

Snowshoe hares have excellent hearing, which helps them to identify approaching predators. They are not particularly vocal animals, but may make loud squealing sounds when captured. When fighting with each other, these animals may hiss and snort. Most communication between hares involves thumping the hind feet against the ground.

Communication Channels: acoustic

Perception Channels: visual ; acoustic

Snowshoe hares have acute hearing, which presumably helps them to identify approaching predators. They are not particularly vocal animals, but may make loud squealing sounds when captured. When engaging in aggressive activites, these animals may hiss and snort. Most communication between hares involves thumping the hind feet against the ground.

Communication Channels: acoustic

Perception Channels: visual ; acoustic

Comments: Mainly crepuscular and nocturnal.

In the wild as much as 85% of snowshoe hares do not live longer than one year. Individuals may live up to 5 years in the wild.

Range lifespan

Status: wild: 5 (high) years.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 5.0 years.

In the wild as much as 85% of snowshoe hares do not live longer than one year. Individuals may live up to 5 years in the wild.

Range lifespan

Status: wild: 5 (high) years.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 5.0 years.

Observations: In the wild, these animals do not generally live more than 3 years and most die within their first year of life. Potential longevity has been estimated at 5 years (Ronald Nowak 1999). One wild born specimen was about 5.4 years of age when it died in captivity (Richard Weigl 2005). Anecdotal reports of animals living up to 8 years have not been confirmed. Further studies are necessary to better estimate the maximum longevity of this species.

Groups of males gather around females who are ready to mate, following the females as they move about their home ranges. Both males and females have multiple mates.

Mating System: polygynandrous (promiscuous)

Breeding season for snowshoe hares runs from mid-March through August. Pregnancy lasts 36 days. When labor approaches, female hares become highly aggressive and intolerant of males. They go to a birthing area, where they have prepared an area of packed down grasses. Females give birth to litters of up to 8 young, although the average litter size is usually two to four young. Litters born late in the season tend to be larger than litters born in the spring. Females may have up to four litters a year, depending on enviromental conditions. Males and females become mature within a year of their birth.

Breeding interval: Female snowshoe hares may give birth every month during the breeding season.

Breeding season: Breeding season for snowshoe hares runs from mid-March through August.

Range number of offspring: 1 to 7.

Average number of offspring: 2.82.

Range gestation period: 36 to 40 days.

Average gestation period: 37.2 days.

Range weaning age: 14 to 28 days.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1 (high) years.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1 (high) years.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); fertilization ; viviparous

Average birth mass: 61.03 g.

Average number of offspring: 3.

Young snowshoe hares are born fully furred and able to move around. The young hide in separate places during the day, only coming together for 5 to 10 minutes at a time to nurse. The female alone cares for them until they are weaned and ready to go off on their own, about four weeks after they are born.

Parental Investment: precocial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female); pre-independence (Provisioning: Female)

Groups of males congregate around estrus females, following the females as they move about their home ranges. Mating is polygynandrous (both males and females have multiple mates).

Mating System: polygynandrous (promiscuous)

Breeding season for snowshoe hares runs from mid-March through August, when the testes of the male begin to regress. Gestation lasts 36 days. When parturition approaches, female hares become highly aggressive and intolerant of males. They retire to a birthing area, where they have prepared an area of packed down grasses. Females give birth to litters of up to 8 young, although the average litter size is usually two to four young. Litters born late in the season tend to be larger than litters born in the spring. Females are polyestrous and may have up to four litters a year, depending on enviromental conditions. Males and females become mature within a year of their birth.

Breeding interval: Female snowshoe hares may give birth every month during the breeding season.

Breeding season: Breeding season for snowshoe hares runs from mid-March through August.

Range number of offspring: 1 to 7.

Average number of offspring: 2.82.

Range gestation period: 36 to 40 days.

Average gestation period: 37.2 days.

Range weaning age: 14 to 28 days.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1 (high) years.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1 (high) years.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); fertilization ; viviparous

Average birth mass: 61.03 g.

Average number of offspring: 3.

Young snowshoe hares are precocial. They are born fully furred and able to locomote. The young hide in separate locations during the day, only coming together for 5 to 10 minutes at a time to nurse. The female alone cares for them until they are weaned and disperse, about four weeks after they are born.

Parental Investment: precocial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female); pre-independence (Provisioning: Female)

Across the range, breeding season extends from February to mid-August. Gestation lasts 36-37 days. Young are born May-August; 1-4 litters/year. Litter size is 1-6, averages 3. Young are weaned at about 4 weeks (last litter of the season sometimes up to 6 weeks). Sexually mature in first spring (second calendar year). Lives usually no more than about 2 years, but up to about 5 years.

Information on state- and province-level protection status
of animals in the United States and Canada is available at NatureServe, although recent changes in status may not be included.

None [84]

Snowshoes hares are common throughout their range. Their rapid reproduction makes it unlikely that they will become a major concern for conservationists.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: no special status

Snowshoes hares are common throughout their range. Their rapid reproduction makes it unlikely that they will become a major concern for conservationists.

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Population

Population Trend

Major Threats

Comments: Populations declines in some parts of the Appalachians (e.g., Virginia) have been due in part to declining habitat quality (loss of adequate cover related in part to forest maturation) (Handley 1991). Heavy browsing by large deer populations can degrade habitat for snowshoe hare.

Prescribed fire could be used to improve snowshoe hare habitat by
creating openings and early successional habitat.  Fire at less than 5-
to 10-year intervals may result in repeated increases and decreases in
snowshoe hare populations [36].

More info for the terms: cover, density, natural, phase, selection, tree

The snowshoe hare is an economically important species; its economic
impact varies with season, region, and population cycle [9].  It is
important prey for many furbearers (coyote, foxes, fishers, etc.), but
does not itself produce economically important fur.  Its importance as
prey creates secondary effects during population lows; predators seeking
other food sources often increase predation rates on preferred game
species such as ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) [42].  The snowshoe hare
is a small game animal and is important as human food in some remote
areas [3].  It is a pest in tree plantations [53] and causes damage to
both managed and unmanaged conifer stands in the Pacific Northwest [35].

Importance as Prey:  Management of furbearers and sensitive predator
species is often dependent on snowshoe hare management as they are a
major prey item for many carnivores.  Lynx, considered a sensitive
species in Washington, can be maintained only with management for their
main prey, the snowshoe hare.  In north-central Washington a patchwork
of early successional stands favored by snowshoe hares and old-growth
forest needed by lynx for denning is recommended [83].  Logging and
thinning units of less than 40 acres (16 ha) encourage natural forest
regeneration; it is recommended that management units be greater than 20
to 25 acres (8-10 ha) (i.e., larger than the average snowshoe hare home
range) to encourage snowshoe hare use and thus benefit lynx [47].  In
Alberta winter coyote density is directly related to snowshoe hare
abundance.  Coyotes switch to alternate prey species only when snowshoe
hares become relatively scarce [76].

Black and others [10] surveyed animal damage to conifer plantations in
Oregon and Washington based on data obtained from 1963 to 1975.
Snowshoe hare damage was substantial to Douglas-fir plantations; in many
cases tree damage was second only to that caused by mule deer
(Odocoileus hemionus).  It must be noted that snowshoe hare populations
peaked in 1971 and 1972.  During population lows most damage to conifer
plantations consists of clipping of small-diameter stems, twigs, and
branches.  Barking becomes serious at high snowshoe hare densities [35].

Snowshoe hare damage birch seedlings by clipping twigs, terminal shoots,
and stems, or by gnawing bark and partially or completely girdling trees
[41].

Control:  All direct control methods are effective only in the short
term.  Lethal control methods are subject to state and local
regulations.  Shooting snowshoe hares is costly of time and personnel,
and is not always effective.  Trapping is costly.  Toxic baits are not
always legal.  Nonlethal methods include repellents, which can be
effective but costly, and exclusion fencing, which is also costly
[27,35].

Indirect control of snowshoe hares consists of Habitat management to
reduce cover.  Silvicultural practices can be modified to reduce
snowshoe hare use of an area; brushy areas attract snowshoe hares.
Second-growth stands with dense brushy understories and high sapling
densities are optimum snowshoe hare habitat.  Thinning often creates
good snowshoe hare habitat when it encourages denser growth of shrubs
[35].  Snowshoe hares also favor clearcut blocks adjacent to pole-size
timber; edges are the areas of greatest snowshoe hare activity [35].

In British Columbia population density and recruitment of snowshoe hares
increased significantly in thinned stands of lodgepole pine during the
first winter but declined thereafter.  Thinning overstocked lodgepole
pine had little or no effect on reproduction or survival of snowshoe
hares but reduced average body weights [72].  In aspen-birch stands
reduction of coniferous cover in cutover areas reduces use by snowshoe
hares [41].  Evans [27] suggested that snowshoe hare damage is probably
reduced where slash and brush are disposed of by burning.  In quaking
aspen (Populus tremuloides) stands in Alberta, intensive regeneration
and periodic removal of competing brush promotes fast early growth and
reduces snowshoe hare damage [26].  Other recommendations include timing
conifer plantation establishment during the low phase of the snowshoe
hare population cycle, using larger planting stock with a reduced
fertilizer regime, and selection of tree species based on snowshoe hare
preferences [35,71,72].

The possibility of raising Douglas-fir stock that is less palatable to
snowshoe hares has been discussed [23].

Parasites and diseases of snowshoe hares have been studied extensively
and were summarized by Bittner and Rongstad [9].

Conservation Actions

Management Requirements: See Williamson (no date) for information on habitat management.

Hares may damage trees, especially during periods of high population density.

Snowshoe hares are used widely as a source of wild meat. In addition to this, they are an important prey species for many predators whose furs are highly valued.

Positive Impacts: food

Hares may damage trees, especially during periods of high population density.

Snowshoe hares are utilized widely as a source of wild meat. In addition to this, they are an important prey species for many predators whose furs are highly valued.

Positive Impacts: food

Comments: Nagorsen (1985) examined cranial variation patterns throughout the range and found no basis for the recognition of the 15 subspecies included in Hall (1981). Non-native subspecies L. a. struthopus was introduced in western Virginia in the 1960s and 1970s and in West Virginia between 1937 and 1950; the introductions failed, and morphological evidence indicates that the native hare population did not incorporate L. a struthopus genes (Handley 1991).