Lepus timidus
mountain hare

Lepus timidus has a general range covering much of the Palearctic.

Hares thrive in three main types of habitat: tundra, forest, and the moorlands of Scotland and Ireland. High densities of hares are found in transition zones of any of these habitats with open clearings. During the winter, L. timidus usually moves into more sheltered areas.

Mountain hares vary geographically depending upon habitat and altitude. The length of the body and head ranges between 430 and 610 mm. Tail length can be as little as 40 mm or as long as 70 mm. Hind feet vary from 145 to 180 mm and ear length from 76 to 106 mm.

The coloring changes with photoperiod and includes 3 molting periods. In the first molting period, from June to September, the coat changes from brown to brown. During the second, from October to January, it changes from brown to white/grey. In the third, from February to May, it changes from white back to brown.

Molts occur faster in an early, warm spring than a colder one as air temperature and snow cover on the ground also affect the rate.

Three types of fur are found on this hare: underfur, about 15 mm long; pile hair, about 25 mm long; and guard hairs, about 40 mm long. The color changes seen in molting are due to changes in the color of the pile hair.

Male mountain hares are smaller than females with seasonal variation in weight. Northern hares are also heavier than southern hares.

The sex ratio of the mountain hares is around 50 % males, and breeding does not occur in the first year of life. After maturity is reached, it is common for a female to have 1 to 2 litters of 1 to 4 young per year. Three litters may occur if there is an early spring. Litter size is correlated with the size of the mother, and larger mothers have larger litters. This, too, varies by region and habitat.

The breeding season is from January to September and is also controlled by photoperiod. Gestation varies from 47 to 54 days, with an average birth weight of 90 g. At birth, the young, or leverets, are fully furred, and their eyes are open. They begin suckling at once and continue for about 4 weeks. Those young born early in the season have a longer growth period, whereas those born later grow faster over a shorter period of time.

When breeding, the male follows the female by her scent. If he gets too close, she may strike at him or simply turn towards him with her ears laid backward as a warning signal.

The social organization of mountain hares is a rare example of a female dominated system. Many males attempt to copulate with one female at the same time. This frequently causes fights between males. Still, there are observable relationships established between males of a group. A relationship between two females has not been recorded.

Lepus timidus is nocturnal, and spends its days resting in a "form", a depression in the snow or ground that greatly reduces wind speed. Sometimes a form is used repeatedly. Often, though, it is abandoned. Even though a hare rests during the day, it only sleeps for a few minutes at a time and carefully grooms itself when awake.

Mountain hares are sometimes seen in or near a burrow. Burrows are sometimes taken over from other animals, or they may be dug by the hare with its large paws. However, only leverets spend any time in the burrows. The mother hare usually sits at the opening.

An unusual behavior of mountain hares is called "hooking." Before a hare rests, it jumps to the side of where its tracks are, apparently so that the tracks cannot be followed. Sometimes this is done repeatedly to confuse predators.

The diet of L. timidus varies not only by habitat, but also by season. In the summer, the forest inhabitants consume mostly leaves and twigs. Those that live in the tundra eat alpine plants. Grasses, lichen, and bark have also been known to been eaten. However, in the winter, when most of the food is buried under snow, heather is the predominant food source.

Mountain hares are rarely seen to drink, so it is thought that they might eat snow. Other winter adaptations include feeding with their back to the wind and clearing out snow from food surfaces with their paws.

In late winter, mountain hares often serve as game for hunters in some areas. This is not as common as it used to be because people in most regions do not consider it to be highly edible. However, it is still eaten in some parts of Ireland.

Often times in the winter, when little food is available and they are facing starvation, mountain hares destroy crops (cereal and brassica) as well as fruit trees and other tree plantations.

The population of mountain hare fluctuates greatly due to predators, parasites and starvation.

Predators include red fox, wild cats, dogs, and birds of prey. Some parasites are fleas, ticks, lices, microorganisms, and bacteria. Starvation can be caused by severe weather or through overeating the food supply.

Although the species overall is not at serious risk, the isolated population in the Alps may be extinct.