Salish Seasonal Guide

Snowshoe Hare

Snowshoe hare are active year-round, but are easiest to spot in winter when the undergrowth is covered by snow.

When to go:

December, January, February, March

Where to go:

• Cabin Creek Sno-Park

What to look for:

Snowshoe hare live in thick forest. During the summer they are grazers, eating grass and other vegetation. In the winter, however, they are browsers, eating bark, twigs and buds.

• Track that Hare

  Snowshoe hare tracks are easy to recognize. The large back feet of the hare land in front when the animal hops, leaving a mark like two exclamation points. Most of the time the two front paw prints are a little offset from one another.

• Brown or White?

  Snowshoe hare are famous for their changing coats - brown in summer and white in winter. The brown coat is actually there year-round, but in the winter the hare grows long white guard hairs that hide the brown fur.

  Snowshoe hare in the Olympic Mountains never turn white. Some scientists think this is an adaptation to climate change since the last ice age.

A Real Snow Bunny

Snowshoe hare get their name from their huge hind feet. Their feet are also furry on the bottom, which helps them avoid frostbite. Since snowshoe hare never hibernate, they need to be adapted for running over the snow.

Many animals prey on snowshoe hare, including lynx, wolf, coyote, pine marten and birds of prey. If you find hare tracks, look for predator tracks as well.

Back to Top

Sources:
Univ. of Montana, 2012
The Northwest Nature Guide, Timber Press 2009
Images by USFWS, Stan Pagacz, Molly Kent