Arctic hare, Lepus arcticus, are found in the northernmost regions of Greenland, the Arctic Islands and Canada, including Ellesmere Island and further south in Newfoundland and Labrador.

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

Global Range: (20,000-2,500,000 square km (about 8000-1,000,000 square miles)) Canada mainly north of treeline, north to the northernmost end of Ellesmere Island, south to Hudson Bay and Newfoundland; common on most of the ice-free coastal region of Greenland; may range several kilometers from land on coastal ice; sea level to 900 m (Best and Henry 1994, Waltari et al. 2004).

Arctic hare have large, heavily padded feet with strong front and hind claws and are larger than other species of hare. An adult ranges from 3 to 5 kg in mass and from 480 to 600 mm in length. On average, they measure 558 mm in length. Year-round, Arctic hare have thick, gray fur on their chest and underbelly. However, the color of the rest of their coat changes seasonally. During the winter season, their coat is long, thick, soft and white and their ears are black-tipped. Throughout the summer, their coat molts to a brownish-gray or gray-blue color. Their face and feet are the first to molt, followed by the ears, shoulders, legs, and backside. Females undergo this change earlier than males. At birth, Arctic hare are gray and weigh an average of 105 g. Their fur changes to white during their first winter, and the tips of their ears become grayer. During the summer months, the fur of young Arctic hare contains more black than the fur of adults.

Range mass: 3 to 5 kg.

Range length: 480 to 600 mm.

Average length: 558 mm.

Average basal metabolic rate: 0.36 cm^3 oxygen/hour.

Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike

Length: 68 cm

Weight: 6800 grams

• Terrestrial

Arctic hare, which are well adapted to cold weather and frozen precipitation, are found in mountainous tundras, rocky plateaus and treeless coasts. In these locations, the average daily temperature from March to November is -26.9 degrees Celsius, and average snowfall is 37.5 cm. Arctic hare can be found at elevations between 0 and 900 km.

Range elevation: 0 to 900 km.

Habitat Regions: polar ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: tundra ; mountains

Aquatic Biomes: coastal

Comments: Tundra and rocky slopes, hills and lower mountain slopes; generally avoids low, flat country lacking sheltered situations; most common where vegetation is not deeply and extensively snow-covered. In winter, may penetrate into northern border of wooded terrain. Can swim freely across small streams, though tends to avoid marshy areas. Takes shelter in depressions, especially on leeward side of rocks. May burrow into snow during storms. Young are born in a nest among mosses and grasses in a simple depression in tundra, or under or among rocks or similar sheltered places; sometimes on offshore islands.

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.

Possibly makes seasonal north-south migrations in some areas, though this has not been adequately documented. May move upslope for winter, downslope for summer.

Arctic hares feed primarily on woody plants such as saxifrage, crowberry, and dwarf willow. Willow constitutes 95% of their diet in every season. During the summer, their diet is more diverse but still primarily consists of willow, dryas and grasses. Arctic hare can eat a wide variety of other food sources, including lichens and mosses, blooms, leaves, twigs and roots, mountain sorrel and macroalgae (seaweed). On occasion, Arctic hare eat meat, including fish and the stomach contents of eviscerated caribou. Arctic hare eat snow to obtain water.

Plant Foods: leaves; roots and tubers; wood, bark, or stems; fruit; flowers; bryophytes; lichens; macroalgae

Primary Diet: herbivore (Folivore )

Comments: Eats twigs and roots of willows and birch, buds and berries of Empetrum, foliage of various other plants, mosses, and lichens. May dig through snow crust to reach food.

Arctic hare disperse seeds, which they eat. They also compete for food resources with two other herbivores in their geographic range, muskoxen and caribou, which eat many of the same things. There are four known groups of parasites that use Arctic hares as a host. These parasites are: protozoans, including Eimeria exigua, E. magna, E. perforans, and E. sculpta; nematodes, including Filaria and Oxyuris ambigua; lice, including Haemodipsus lyriocephalus and H. setoni; and most commonly fleas, including Hoplopsyllus glacialis, Euhoplopsyllus glacialis, and Megabothris groenlandicus.

Ecosystem Impact: disperses seeds

Commensal/Parasitic Species:

• protozoans Eimeria exigua
• protozoans Eimeria magna
• protozoans Eimeria perforans
• protozoans Eimeria sculpta
• nematodes Filaria
• nematodes Oxyuris ambigua
• lice Haemodipsus lyriocephalus
• lice Haemodipsus setoni
• fleas Hoplopsyllus glacialis
• fleas Euhoplopsyllus glacialis
• fleas Megabothris groenlandicus

Arctic hare are well adapted to avoid predators. During the winter, their white fur blends in with snow and acts as camouflage. During the spring and summer, their fur is a brownish-gray, which also blends in with the ground and surrounding habitat. A few days after birth, young Arctic hare are able to defend themselves by hiding or remaining motionless. As they mature, they become incredibly agile and can reach speeds of 64 km/h, allowing them to outrun predators. Young arctic hare are more likely to fall prey than adults. Predators of Arctic hare include Arctic foxes, red foxes, gray wolves, Canada lynx, ermines, snowy owls, gyrfalcons, and rough-legged hawks. Humans also capture Arctic hare for food and materials.

Known Predators:

• Arctic fox Vulpes lagopus
• red fox Vulpes vulpes
• gray wolf Canis lupus
• Canada lynx Lynx canadensis
• ermine Mustela erminea
• snowy owl Bubo scandiacus
• gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus
• rough-legged hawk Buteo lagopus
• humans Homo sapiens

Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic

Usually solitary but not uncommonly gregarious, primarily during nonbreeding season; may occur in groups of 10-60, or up to thousands on Arctic islands in Canada. In many areas, populations fluctuate widely over periods of several years. Average of 1 adult/sq km in Long Range Mountains, Newfoundland; 15-50/sq km on islands off Newfoundland's south coast (Small et al. 1991).

Summer range of females was half that of males (116-155 ha) in Newfoundland (Hearn et al. 1987). Mean home range size was reported by Small et al. (1991) as 290 ha in Newfoundland, 9-49 ha on adjacent islands.

Apparently lacks a rigid social-dominance system; environmental factors such as food resources, snow conditions, and presence of predators may be primary influences on dispersion (Small et al. 1991).

In Newfoundland, annual survivorship was 78% for adults, 15% for first-year juveniles (Hearn et al. 1987).

At high densities, may be an important competitor of muskoxen and caribou during winter when all three species feed on willows; however, the muskoxen and caribou generally do have alternate food sources (graminoids).

Predators include various arctic Carnivora and raptors.

Arctic hares are nocturnal, although during the winter months, they rest more sporadically throughout the day. Arctic hare are generally solitary outside of mating season, but they have been known to gather in groups of 100 or more. While hare in these groups rest, one individual remains awake to guard the herd. As pairs of Arctic hare form during mating season, large groups are much less common. Arctic hares communicate with each other via snapping, boxing, scratching, and laying their ears back. Male and female arctic hares show affection by licking or scratching.

Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical

Perception Channels: visual

Little information is available regarding the longevity of Arctic hare, though anecdotal evidence suggests they live 3 to 5 years. Arctic hare do not survive well in captivity.

Range lifespan

Status: captivity: 1.5 (high) years.

Typical lifespan

Status: wild: 3 to 5 years.

Arctic hare find a new mate during each breeding season. Males attract females by physical contact, such as scratching and licking and a male follows the female until mating occurs. Males can be fairly aggressive during copulation and may bite a female's neck, drawing blood. Until offspring are born, a mating pair remains together, often settling away from other hares. Upon birth, males typically leave their partner to find another mate.

Mating System: polygynandrous (promiscuous)

Arctic hare typical mate in April or May. Females have, on average, 1 litter per year but can have 2 litters. Litters range in size from 2 to 8 offspring, unlike other members of the genus g. Lepus, of which the litters range from 1 to 4 offspring. The gestation period of Arctic hare is approximately 50 days, and offspring are usually born in May or June. Arctic hare weigh on average 105 g at birth. Juveniles become mostly independent after 2 to 3 weeks, but remain close to their mother until weaning occurs at 8 or 9 weeks after birth. Arctic hares reach sexually maturity at approximately 315 days of age, meaning hares are able to breed the spring directly following their birth.

Breeding interval: Arctic hare typically breed once a year but may breed twice in one season.

Breeding season: The breeding season of Arctic hare spans April to September.

Range number of offspring: 2 to 8.

Average number of offspring: 5.8.

Average gestation period: 50 days.

Average birth mass: 105 g.

Range weaning age: 8 to 9 weeks.

Range time to independence: 2 to 3 weeks.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 315 days.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 315 days.

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

Male Arctic hare may remain near the nest for a few days after birth of their offspring but are otherwise absent. For the first 2 to 3 days after giving birth, females do not leave sight of her offspring so as to protect and defend the nest. After 3 days, young Arctic hare are able to protect themselves by hiding or remaining very still. Females nurse their young every 18 to 20 hours, and young are weaned at 8 to 9 weeks of age. As juveniles mature, they spend a decreasing amount of time with their mother.

Parental Investment: female parental care ; pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-independence (Protecting: Female); post-independence association with parents

Gestation lasts about 53 days. Young are born mainly in late May-early June in Newfoundland, usually in late June farther north. Litter size 2-8, averages 2.5-4.5 in different years in Newfoundland, 6.5 farther north; one litter/year in Newfoundland, possibly two or more litters annually in some places (Hearn et al. 1987, Best and Henry 1994). Young are weaned at 8-9 weeks., begin breeding at 1 year.

Arctic hare are considered to be at low risk and of least concern by the IUCN Red List.

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

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

There are no known adverse effects of Arctic hare on humans.

Arctic hare are a source of both clothing and food for the native people of the Arctic. Eskimos use the absorbent fur to make gloves and hats, bandages and feminine supplies. The skin is used for blankets, stockings, and pants, although it is thin and tears easily. Eskimos utilize pelts to make towels, and in some cases, to plug rifle barrels. Arctic hare are also a food source to Eskimos, who utilize every part of the animal except the intestines. The white flesh is usually lean and full-flavored, though additional fat is often added to provide more flavor. The quality and taste of the flesh varies with age, sex, and season. During mating season, for example, males are nearly inedible. Arctic hare are quite thin during the winter, providing less meat. The ear cartilage is considered a delicacy. Eskimos often break the hind leg bones and suck out the bone marrow. They may also chew the milk glands and consume the milk within as a remedy for nausea.

Positive Impacts: food ; body parts are source of valuable material; source of medicine or drug

Comments: Provides a source of food, clothing, and other useful items for native peoples, and comprises a potentially valuable recreational resource (see Best and Henry 1994).

Comments: Lepus arcticus and L. othus formerly were included in L. timidus. Jones et al. (1992) and Hoffman and Smith (in Wilson and Reeder 2005) treated L. timidus, L. arcticus, and L. othus as separate species. Angermann (in Wilson and Reeder 1993) regarded L. timidus, L. arcticus , and L. othus as probably conspecific (in which case the specific name timidus has priority). Some evidence based on cranial variation suggests that only Lepus arcticus and L. timidus should be recognized (Baker et al. 1983). Halanych et al. (1999) found minimal genetic diferences between L. arcticus and L. othus, and they questioned the validity of L. othus as a distinct species. However, Halanych et al. (1999) noted the need for further taxonomic study of the arctic hare group. Pending further study, the North American mammal checklist by Baker et al. (2003) retained L. othus as a valid species. MtDNA data presented by Waltari et al. (2004) are consistent with recognition of L. arcticus, L. othus, and L. timidus as different species.