The snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), varying hare or snowshoe rabbit
The snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), also called the varying hare or snowshoe rabbit, is a species of hare found in North America. It has the name "snowshoe" because of the large size of its hind feet. The animal's feet prevent it from sinking into the snow when it hops and walks. Its feet also have fur on the soles to protect it from freezing temperatures.
Habitat and distinctive features
Lepus americanus is distributed in coniferous and mixed forests of North America, as far south as California and the Appalachians. It is systematically and biologically very similar to the Eurasian Arctic hare. Lepus americanus is somewhat smaller: its body length reaches 41-52 cm, with females usually larger than males. The body proportions and colouration of the American Hare are the same as those of the Arctic Hare. In winter, its fur is white except for the ears.
Lepus americanus leads a sedentary lifestyle. Its individual plot is usually about 2.5 ha, less for lactating females.
What they feed on
In winter the main food of Lepus americanus is bark of trees and bushes, small branches; in summer - herbaceous plants, preferably legumes, as well as cereals, sedges and ferns. Lepus americanus likes underground mushrooms, which they easily find and dig up, and horsetails. In spring, after a hungry winter period, the animals congregate in places where the first young grass grows and often lose caution. Surprisingly, hares can sometimes eat meat due to protein deficiency - they have been known to eat dead rodents, for example.
Breeding
In different parts of their range, female American squirrels breed between 2 and 4 times a year. On average, there are 3 cubs in a litter, while the maximum number of cubs is 7. The largest broods occur in mid-summer. Pregnancy lasts 36-40 days. When the time of delivery approaches, females become aggressive The cubs are born sighted and covered with fur. After 24 hours they usually leave the place of birth, the female feeds them with milk for 30-35 days. Cubs from the same brood usually stay together. The cubs start eating grass from 10-12 days of age and reach sexual maturity at about 1 year of age. The life span of Lepus americanus is 7-8 years.
Taxonomy and distribution
Snowshoe hares occur from Newfoundland to Alaska; south in the Sierra Nevada to central California; in the Rocky Mountains to southern Utah and northern New Mexico; and in the Appalachian Mountains to West Virginia. Populations in its southern range, such as in Ohio, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Virginia have been extirpated. Locations of subspecies are as follows:
- Lepus americanus americanus (Erxleben) – Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Montana, and North Dakota;
- Lepus americanus cascadensis (Nelson) – British Columbia and Washington;
- Lepus americanus columbiensis (Rhoads) – British Columbia, Alberta, and Washington;
- Lepus americanus dalli (Merriam) – Mackenzie District, British Columbia, Alaska, Yukon;
- Lepus americanus klamathensis (Merriam) – Oregon and California;
- Lepus americanus oregonus (Orr) – Oregon;
- Lepus americanus pallidus (Cowan) – British Columbia;
- Lepus americanus phaeonotus (J. A. Allen) – Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota;
- Lepus americanus pineus (Dalquest) – British Columbia, Idaho, and Washington;
- Lepus americanus seclusus (Baker and Hankins) – Wyoming;
- Lepus americanus struthopus (Bangs) – Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Maine;
- Lepus americanus tahoensis (Orr) – California, western Nevada;
- Lepus americanus virginianus (Harlan) – Ontario, Quebec, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania;
- Lepus americanus washingtonii (Baird) – British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon.
