Polar hare. Arctic hare Where does this species live?
Previously, the Arctic hare (lat. Lepus arcticus) was considered just a subspecies of the mountain hare, which is adapted for living in the mountains and polar regions. However, more recently it was identified as a separate species of the hare family. And for good reason, because the Arctic hare is one of the most unique and amazing creatures.
It lives in northern Canada, in the tundra parts of Greenland and on the Arctic islands as far north as Ellesmere. The conditions here are, frankly speaking, polar. So nature had to take a little care of the bunny and adapt it to survival in the cold.
First of all, she made his ears relatively short - this allowed him to reduce heat transfer. The whole body is covered with thick and fluffy fur, with which you can not be afraid of severe frosts. The tail was sculpted short (only 5 cm) and fluffy, but the hind legs were made long and powerful, so the Arctic hare can move so quickly through deep snow, without any fear of falling into a snowdrift.
The body length of this hare is 55-70 cm, weight is usually in the range of 4-5.5 kg. Moreover, northern individuals are always slightly larger than their southern counterparts. This is explained by the fact that with more weight it is much easier to endure the cold. Moreover, if 20% of body weight is accumulated fat, then the white hare can live at a temperature of -24 degrees for about 15 days.
The hare's front paws have sharp and curved claws - a device that allows the animal to dig up snow to get to plants. But nature didn’t stop there either: she gave the bunny large eyes with a viewing angle of almost 360 degrees and immediately protected them with thick and dark eyelashes so that the animal would not go blind from the shiny and bright snow. In addition, the Arctic hare has an excellent sense of smell, with which it easily finds food even under a large layer of snow.
Still, in winter he prefers more or less sheltered places where he doesn’t have to dig for a long time to get something edible, and in summer he chooses areas where grass grows very quickly. The Arctic hare feeds on buds, berries, leaves and grass. It can eat lichens, mosses and even meat from traps in which it itself gets caught.
During the breeding season (April-May), males may fight among themselves. At the same time, they box desperately, just like kangaroos, but they never bite. During pregnancy, which lasts from 36 to 42 days, the female digs a hole, hiding it behind rocks or under a bush. The inside of the home is insulated with the fur of the expectant mother and dry grass.
The cubs are born sighted and furry. On average, there are from four to eight of them - and almost immediately after birth, they all jump merrily around their mother. At 2-3 weeks, babies are almost independent, although their mother still feeds them regularly. By 9 weeks, breastfeeding usually ends.
Arctic hare become sexually mature by the next breeding season, and their lifespan is only 5 years. They are hunted by arctic wolves, arctic foxes and lynxes. Young people often fall prey to gyrfalcons, snowy owls and stoats. And yet the population as a whole is not yet in danger.
The polar hare is the largest among its other brothers. He looks a lot like a rabbit, only his ears are much longer.
This species has perfectly adapted to living conditions in cold areas. It tolerates temperatures well even minus 30 degrees Celsius. Habitat: northern Canada and the tundra of Greenland. But this animal is not found in Alaska.
Appearance of a polar hare
An adult weighs 4-5 kg, its body reaches 60-70 cm in length. Externally, males and females are no different.
The color of the fur varies depending on the time of year: in winter it is white, and in summer it is gray or light brown. Hares living in the polar regions of Canada do not change the color of their fur; their fur is always white.
Behavior and nutrition of the polar hare in nature
The polar hare is a frisky and fast animal, it runs at a speed of 65 km/h. This is due to the strong and long hind legs. When running, the hare simultaneously pushes off the ground with both hind legs, and touches the ground alternately with its front legs. The paws have fairly strong claws with which the hare can dig up frozen ground or rake through dense snow cover in search of food. Prefers to live in areas with a small layer of snow. Not found in swampy areas and damp areas.
These animals are good swimmers and can swim across a small river. The location of the eyes gives a wide viewing angle; the animal can inspect the area without turning its head. This allows you to see the predator in time and avoid an attack. There are many people who want to attack the polar hare. This is an arctic fox, an ermine, a polar wolf. Young individuals are often attacked by snowy owls. Therefore, the hare is always forced to be careful and, in addition to searching for food, ensure its own safety. On average, these animals live 5 years.
Hares can lead both a solitary and gregarious lifestyle. They often live in groups, the number of which can reach several thousand individuals. Everyone lives there on equal terms, there are no leaders. Such groups are short-lived, their composition is unstable. In winter, these animals live on the mainland, and with the arrival of spring, on the ice floes that have not yet melted, they move to the islands located to the north of the mainland. The main reason for this movement is the complete absence of predators on these islands. These animals are nocturnal; this time is safer for them.
The basis of the diet is plant foods. In winter, the arctic hare feeds on woody plants, lichens and moss, which it digs out from under the snow. The rest of the time it feeds on berries, tree bark, leaves and roots of plants. If it finds a dead small animal, it eats it too.
Reproduction of hares
The mating season takes place in the spring, in April – May. The animals form pairs, and in some cases a male mates with several females. The female is in charge of arranging the burrow. A burrow is a hole dug in the ground behind a large stone or rock; at its bottom there is a bedding made of the hare’s own fur, which the female plucks, and leaves.
The duration of pregnancy is approximately 1.5 months. Women living in the southern regions give birth almost a week earlier. From 2 to 8 cubs are born. The offspring grow very quickly and by September they are as large as adults. They become sexually mature in the spring of next year and begin to reproduce.
These animals have been hunted for centuries. Their meat was used for food, and clothing was made from their fur. Therefore, man has always been an enemy for the hare. But it’s still more dangerous for this animal
Any novice zoologist is well aware that the Arctic hare is a hare well adapted to living in mountainous and polar regions. It has adapted well to the harsh northern climate, and for life it chooses mainly wastelands and bare areas of land.
Brief description of appearance
The average length of an adult four-kilogram individual reaches 55-70 centimeters. By analogy with most of its relatives, the Arctic hare has a small fluffy tail and powerful long hind legs, allowing it to quickly jump through deep snow. The animal’s head is adorned with relatively short ears, and its body is covered with thick fur, which helps it better withstand sub-zero temperatures. Hares living in the far north have a white coat. Individuals inhabiting other regions acquire a grayish-blue hue in summer, thanks to which they are easily camouflaged as local vegetation and rocks.
Where does this species live?
The Arctic hare inhabits the northernmost regions of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and Greenland. It can also often be found in na This animal is equally at home in highland and lowland areas. In summer, hares choose areas where vegetation grows quickly. In winter, they move to secluded corners where they do not need to dig deep to get food. They try to avoid wet meadows, preferring to settle in drier areas.
The Arctic hare can make seasonal migrations. Thus, hare hare living in Rankin Inlet move from the mainland to small islands in late spring. The main reason for this relocation is considered to be the smaller number of predators living there.
What does the arctic hare eat?
The Arctic hare belongs to the category of herbivores. The basis of its diet consists of woody plants. He can also feast on grass, leaves, berries and buds. The animal has a well-developed sense of smell, so it can easily dig up roots and willow twigs hidden under a layer of snow.
In addition, there have been recorded cases of the Arctic hare eating bark, sedge, lichens, mosses and even meat from hunting traps. It can also eat tidal algae. When eating, the hare tries to lean on its hind legs, raking the snow with its front legs, under which edible vegetation is hidden. After eating, they always clean their fur. To get food hidden under a hard layer of snow, the animal hits it with its powerful paws and then begins to gnaw at the ice crust.
Features of reproduction
The mating season usually falls in April-May. At this time, whites split into pairs, but one male can have several females at once. The hare, having chosen a secluded place behind rocks or under a bush, digs a hole there and lines it with fur and grass. The average duration of pregnancy for a female is 36-42 days. The closer to the north, the later the hares are born.
In a litter, as a rule, there are from four to eight babies, each weighing 56-113 grams. They are born already sighted, and their bodies are covered with gray-brown hair. Just a few minutes after birth, babies are already able to jump. Two-week-old bunnies become more independent and no longer need their mother so much. By September they look like their parents, and the following season they begin to reproduce.
Features of behavior
Unfortunately, this aspect of the white hare’s life has been studied much less well compared to its relatives. It is known for certain that the Arctic hare is a nocturnal and crepuscular animal. It does not hibernate in winter because it tolerates low temperatures well due to its thick fur and low ratio between the area and volume of its body. It is thanks to this feature that the hare’s body manages to compensate for the slowdown in basal metabolism.
In particularly severe frosts, hares hide behind boulders or in dug holes. They live in relatively small areas, so they go in search of food along the same paths. To escape from predators, these animals can rush at a speed of about 60 km/h.
- Class: Mammalia Linnaeus, 1758 = Mammals
- Subclass: Theria Parker et Haswell, 1879= Viviparous mammals, true animals
- Infraclass: Eutheria, Placentalia Gill, 1872= Placental, higher animals
- Family: Lagomorpha Brandt, 1855 = Lagomorpha
- Species: Tundra or Alaskan hare - Lepus othus
Type: Tundra, or 
Alaskan hare - Lepus othus
English name The tundra hare or Alaska hare. North American species. Found in the north and west of the Alaska Peninsula.
One of the largest representatives of the genus. It occurs in the open tundra of western Alaska on the Alaska Peninsula as far north as the Seward Peninsula near Kotzebue (Klein 1995). Historically, the species L. othus lived on the northern spurs of Alaska, where it is not currently found.
The Alaskan hare feeds on various parts of willow (Salix spp.) and grass - in winter, willow and grass are the basis of the hare's diet. As willow is replaced by other trees (birch, for example), the role of other trees increases, and the share of willow decreases.
Lepus othus is included in the same group with the Arctic or Greenland hare L. arcticus (from Greenland and Canada), as well as the Eurasian mountain hare L. timidus. These three are classified as different species (Flux & Angermann 1990, Hoffmann 1993), some recognize only two species (L. arcticus and L. timidus), but DNA analysis allows all three hares to be grouped into one species. There are also opposing opinions. Based on morphological studies, Anderson (1974) concluded that L. othus is a separate species and is not related to L. arcticus and L. timidus. Ramos 1998 shares the same opinion. Zoologists Baker et al. (1983) recognize two independent species, L. arcticus and L. timidus (the latter includes L. othus.
Subspecies of Lepus othus are distinguished:
Lepus othus othus (Merriam), found in the St. Michael and Norton Sound areas.
Lepus othus poadromus (Merriam) - found in Stepovak Bay, Alaska Peninsula.
Species: Arctic hare - Lepus arcticus
The Arctic hare is a North American species. It lives in the tundra of Canada's Northern Territories, Nunavut, Labrador, and the islands of Newfoundland and Greenland. The Arctic hare prefers open spaces where strong winds blow; gusts of wind clear the land with vegetation that serves as food for the hares. Usually nocturnal, especially active at dusk, it remains active all winter. Several hares may stay together in small groups for safety; sometimes up to 200 hares gather in such groups. When disturbed, the Arctic hare stands on its hind legs and hops on two legs, like a kangaroo. He is able to gallop for some distance before returning to natural locomotion on all fours. 
In winter, the Arctic hare is white, only the tips of its ears are black. In summer it turns brown. Only hares on the Arctic islands do not shed and retain white fur throughout the year. Adults weigh from 3 – 3.5 to 5.5 – 6 kg. In the L. arcticus hare, young are born from April to September, gestation lasts 50 days, and the average litter consists of 5.4 young (Banfield 1974; G. R. Parker 1977). A female L. arcticus from the island of Newfoundland was recorded to have only one litter per year of 3 young. This is the lowest productivity of any hares (Hearn, Keith, and Rongstad 1987).
The female can give birth two to three times a year, the peak of hare births occurs at the end of May, June-July, in a litter of 1-5 bunnies. Newborns are well developed physically, they are born fully pubescent, able to see and hear. In moments of danger, the Arctic hare can reach speeds of up to 64 km/hour. They swim well and easily cross streams and rivers.
The summer ranges of the hare L. arcticus on the island of Newfoundland range from 52 to 69 ha. For three females and 116-55 ha for three males (Hearn, Keith and Rongstad 1987).
Arctic hares are active all year round. They feed on grass and plant material, and in winter on shoots and bark. In some cases, hares ate voles and hares. L. arcticus is a meat-eating species and is often caught in fox traps using meat bait (Banfield 1974).
As a result of the resettlement of the species L. americanus on the island of Newfoundland in 1864 - 1876. the native species L. arcticus has declined and become rare on the western uplands of the island (Bergerud 1967).
The Arctic hare, or arctic hare (Latin: Lepus arcticus) has adapted to life in the Arctic regions of Canada and Greenland. The local population traditionally uses its meat for food, and its fur for sewing outerwear.
Young hares are the main source of protein for many predators in the Arctic. The lucky ones who managed to survive the dangerous periods of childhood and adolescence become practically inaccessible to polar foxes and birds of prey. They master the art of masterly escape and camouflage to such an extent that they even often come very close to a person’s home. Confident in their intellectual superiority and dexterity, they study with interest the habits of homo sapiens.
The species was first described in 1819 by John Ross, a navigator and Arctic explorer.
Behavior
Arctic white hare live in tundra and mountainous areas at altitudes up to 900 m above sea level. The main criteria for their choice of residence are the presence of vegetation during the short Arctic summer and not too much snow in winter. Animals must be able to make holes in the snow to get to moss, lichens and plants.
In the absence of access to plant food, they switch to animal food, and can even extract meat from hunting traps. In summer, polar hares love to feast on berries and young grass.
The legs, especially the front ones, are relatively long and strong. With their help, hares easily cope with the crust and get to the desired food under the snow. They chew through icy crusts with incisors, which are stronger and longer than those of their related common hare.
Arctic hare hare lead a predominantly solitary lifestyle, but can periodically gather in groups of up to 300 individuals. Such groups always have their own sentries, vigilantly monitoring the environment and sounding an alarm at the slightest danger.
While escaping, the hare reaches speeds of up to 65 km/h. It is interesting that hares living in more northern regions always start running on their hind legs, and then switch to regular four-legged running. If necessary, they can swim across small rivers.
Feeding takes place at dusk and at night. Animals usually feed in the same area and migrate only in extreme cases. During their solitary period, hares defend their territory from their relatives. They stand on their hind legs and box each other with their front legs. The fight is accompanied by grabbing and scratching, but noble duelists do not allow themselves to bite.
Reproduction
The mating season begins in April and can last, depending on climatic conditions, until mid-September. In warm summers, the female can have two litters. Pregnancy lasts from 36 to 42 days. Whites retain mating pairs until offspring appear. Having seen his offspring, the father loses all interest in his family and goes in search of a new female.
The female brings from 2 to 8 cubs. The nest is usually located in rock crevices or under stones. The inside is lined with dry grass and moss. The expectant mother always insulates him with her own down. For the first three days after the birth of the babies, the female remains constantly with them. After this, they can come out of hiding and carefully explore the surrounding area.
At the age of 2-3 weeks, babies become quite independent, so the mother visits them only for feeding. They consume up to 50 g of milk per day. Milk feeding stops in the second month of life.
By September, the hares grow to the size of adults, and in the spring of the following year they reach sexual maturity.
Description
The body length is 40-63 cm, and the weight ranges from 3 to 6.8 kg. Males are externally indistinguishable from females. The further north hares live, the larger their size. In winter, hare whites wear dazzling white fur. Only small edges on the ears remain black.
In the southern regions of their range, polar hares acquire gray-bluish fur in the summer, and only the tail remains white. The underfur is thick and greyish. There may be different shades of summer color.
The lifespan of the Arctic hare in natural conditions is about 7 years.