The Arctic hare, being a resilient creature, populates some of the coldest regions on the face of the earth.

Native mostly to northern Canada, Greenland, and Alaska, this hare has been adapted to live through the utmost harsh conditions in the Arctic tundra where temperatures may be easily below freezing.

Physical Characteristics and Adaptations

Its appearance is also very different from other hare species. In winter, it is clothed in thick, white fur that insulates it very well and camouflage it on snowy grounds. At this time of the year, when summer takes the whole place, its coat is brownish-gray, merging into the rocky tundra landscape. Such seasonal change plays a great role in helping avoid predators, especially arctic foxes, wolves, and snowy owls.

Their big hind legs and strong claws allow them to move quickly on the snow and dig into it for their food. This accelerates to 40 miles an hour, a sure way of keeping off the predators. Their ears are also much shorter compared with other hares to prevent heat from being lost and help them conserve body temperature in below-zero climates.

Diet and Foraging Habits

Surprisingly, Arctic hares have such varied diets even when the tundra is bare. These hares burrow into the snow during winter until they get to some woody plants, their roots, and their barks. During summer, when the snow has already melted, their diet is a varied composition of diverse plants, leaves, and berries. Their ability to adapt diets according to seasonal availability of food is just a testament to how resilient and resourceful they are out here in such a harsh environment.

Social Structure and Behaviour

Arctic hares are normally solitary but sometimes aggregate during winter, more so during periods when food is scarce. Aggregations can be as few as a couple of individuals to hundreds of animals that help them conserve heat and avoid being preyed upon. This way, too, agglomeration enhances the possibility of survival due to the fact that the presence of danger is more easily detected.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Arctic hares breed once every year and have a pregnancy period of about 50 days. Males often mate in litters with as many as eight leverets - or baby hares - in spring or early summer. At birth the leverets are fully furred; their eyes are open and thus they are precocial, being able to be relatively independent shortly after birth. In weeks they are able to forage independently, and by fall they are nearly full-sized.

Conservation Status

Presently, Arctic hares are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature under the "Least Concern" category. The current threat to their populations by habitat loss through climate change has an implication for them on their food sources and protection of areas for safe denning. Global warming could easily modulate the Arctic ecosystem in such a way that predator-prey dynamics would be affected.

Hello Lykkers!

How about you, Lykkers? Have you seen an Arctic hare in the wild, or is this on your bucket list with regard to the Arctic wildlife to see? Let us know what other Arctic animals you're interested in, or share with us your favorite fun facts about the Arctic tundra!