The Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus) is a familiar sight in the far north, although its white coat can make it surprisingly difficult to notice. Much of the year is spent in a landscape of snow, rocks and low-growing plants, and the hare has several features that help it live there. Its thick fur protects it from the cold, while its strong legs help it move across snowy ground.
 |
| An Arctic hare, with its white winter coat, is in a snowy Arctic landscape. |
Arctic hares are mainly found in the Arctic and High Arctic regions of Canada and Greenland. They live in open tundra where trees are largely absent and the growing season is short. In Greenland, the species is widespread across much of the country, although it is less common along the southeast coast. Food can be limited there, especially during the long winter, when the growing season is short. The animals feed on whatever vegetation is available, including Arctic willows and other low-growing plants. In places such as Canada's Wapusk National Park, they are part of a wider tundra community that includes Arctic foxes, wolves, and other small mammals. Parks Canada — Wapusk National Park
Although people sometimes call it a polar rabbit, the animal is actually a hare. The name Arctic hare is the usual common name, and Lepus arcticus is its scientific name. Its white winter coat is one of the easiest features to recognise, but this unusual animal has much more to offer than just its appearance.
What Is an Arctic Hare?
The Arctic hare is a member of the hare and rabbit family and is scientifically known as Lepus arcticus. It is sometimes called a polar rabbit, although the Arctic hare is the standard common name.
It is a fairly large hare with a thick coat and strong hind legs. In Wapusk National Park in northern Manitoba, Parks Canada records both Arctic hares and snowshoe hares. The Arctic hare is the larger of the two and has black-tipped ears.
The animal is not simply a rabbit living in a cold place. Its body and behaviour are suited to the open tundra, where shelter is limited, and winter conditions can last for months.
Where Do Arctic Hares Live?
Arctic hares are found in northern Canada and Greenland, living mainly in open Arctic and High Arctic tundra. Greenland is an important part of their range. According to Visit Greenland, Arctic hares are common throughout much of Greenland but are absent from the southeast coast. They are particularly common farther north, where groups can sometimes be seen together.
In Canada, the species occurs across Arctic regions, including places such as Wapusk National Park and Quttinirpaaq National Park. Quttinirpaaq lies on Ellesmere Island and contains a mixture of glaciers, mountains, polar desert, and small areas where vegetation is much richer. Arctic hares are among the mammals found there.
The Lake Hazen Basin in Quttinirpaaq is especially remarkable. Compared with much of the surrounding High Arctic landscape, it is warmer and wetter, allowing grasses, flowers and other plants to grow during the short summer. Parks Canada reports that Arctic hares can gather there in groups numbering in the hundreds.
 |
| An Arctic hare sits quietly on the snow, blending into its winter surroundings. |
How Does the Arctic Hare Survive Winter?
Thick Fur and a Compact Body
An Arctic winter is not an easy place for a small animal. The hare has a thick coat that helps protect it from the cold, while its compact, sturdy body helps it retain heat. Its fur also has another job. During winter, the coat becomes white, which makes the animal much less noticeable when the ground is covered with snow. Visit Greenland describes the Arctic hare as having an insulating coat that allows it to live in very cold areas.
Why Does the Arctic Hare Turn White?
The white winter coat is one of the most noticeable features of the Arctic hare. When the snow arrives, the animal can blend into its surroundings instead of standing out against the white ground. This is especially useful because the Arctic hare has predators. Remaining still and difficult to see can give it an advantage before it needs to run. Parks Canada notes that Arctic hares turn white in winter, while Visit Greenland also describes the species as having an entirely white coat with black ear tips. In southern Greenland, however, the summer coat can have a greyish upper side.
Large Feet for Snowy Ground
The Arctic hare has strong legs that allow it to move quickly when necessary. Its feet and claws are also useful when it has to deal with snow-covered ground. Finding food can sometimes mean digging. Visit Greenland notes that Arctic hares can use their powerful claws to dig through compact snow to reach vegetation underneath.
 |
| Strong hind legs and large feet help the Arctic hare move across uneven snowy ground. |
What Does an Arctic Hare Eat?
Arctic hares are herbivores, so their food comes from plants. That might sound simple, but finding enough vegetation in the High Arctic can be difficult, particularly during winter. Their diet includes grasses, herbs, buds, shoots, bark, and roots. Arctic willow is also an important food source in some northern habitats. When snow covers the ground, the hare may dig to reach plants underneath it. During the short Arctic summer, some areas provide a much greater supply of food. The Lake Hazen Basin, for example, develops lush meadows for a brief period, creating a productive feeding area in an otherwise harsh landscape.
Arctic Hare vs. Rabbit
The names can be confusing because people sometimes use “rabbit” when talking about the Arctic hare. They belong to the same family, but an Arctic hare is not a domestic rabbit. Hares and rabbits also differ in several ways. Hares generally have longer legs and are built for running, while rabbits tend to rely more heavily on cover and burrows. An Arctic hare is especially adapted to an open environment where there may not be many places to hide.
The name polar rabbit is therefore best understood as an informal description. Arctic hare is the appropriate common name for Lepus arcticus.
 |
| A resting Arctic hare is well camouflaged against the surrounding snow. |
What Animals Prey on Arctic Hares?
Being difficult to spot does not make an Arctic hare completely safe. It is part of the Arctic food web and can become prey for carnivores and birds of prey. In Wapusk National Park, Parks Canada describes small mammals such as hares and lemmings as important parts of the ecosystem. These animals are connected to predator-prey relationships involving foxes, wolves and other carnivores. Young Arctic hares are particularly vulnerable. Visit Greenland notes that many young hares become prey, although their colour and behaviour can help them stay hidden.
Arctic Hares in the Arctic Ecosystem
The Arctic hare may look like a solitary animal when seen sitting quietly on the snow, but it plays a role in a much larger system. It feeds on tundra vegetation and, in turn, provides food for predators. That makes it part of the connection between the plants growing on the Arctic tundra and the animals that hunt there.
In Quttinirpaaq National Park, Arctic hares share the landscape with Arctic foxes, Arctic wolves, muskoxen, Peary caribou, and other wildlife. During the short summer, the richer areas around Lake Hazen support a surprisingly active community of plants and animals.
Wapusk National Park provides another example. Its northern tundra contains grasses, mosses, lichens, and shrubs, alongside small mammals including Arctic hares. Parks Canada describes these small mammals as important parts of the park's ecosystem and studies their relationships with predators as indicators of ecological health.
 |
| Thick winter fur helps the Arctic hare cope with the cold conditions of the far north. |
FAQs About Arctic Hares
What is an Arctic hare?
The Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus) is a wild hare found in the far north. It’s built for life on the tundra, with thick fur, strong legs, and a body suited to cold conditions.
Where do Arctic hares live?
Arctic hares are found across parts of the Arctic and High Arctic, including northern Canada and Greenland. In Canada's Quttinirpaaq National Park, you can see Arctic hares in large groups around the Lake Hazen area during the short summer season.
Why does the Arctic hare turn white?
Its white winter coat helps it blend into snowy surroundings. This camouflage can make the hare harder for predators to notice.
What does an Arctic hare eat?
Arctic hares eat vegetation such as grasses, herbs, buds, shoots, bark, and roots. They can also dig through compact snow to reach food beneath it.
How does an Arctic hare survive the winter?
Its thick insulating coat helps protect it from the cold, while its strong legs and powerful claws help it move through snowy terrain and reach food. Its white winter coat also provides camouflage.
Is an Arctic hare the same as a polar rabbit?
“Polar rabbit” is an informal name sometimes used for the animal. The standard common name is Arctic hare, and its scientific name is Lepus arcticus.
 |
| An Arctic hare in the sparse vegetation typical of its tundra habitat. |
 |
| The white winter coat makes an Arctic hare difficult to distinguish from the snow. |
Conclusion
The Arctic hare is a particularly striking example of how wildlife can adapt to an environment that appears almost impossible for life. Its white coat blends into the snow, its powerful body helps it travel across tundra, and its diet allows it to make use of the limited vegetation available in the far north.
What makes the animal especially interesting is its place in the larger Arctic ecosystem. It is not simply a fluffy white animal photographed against the snow. It is a herbivore, a prey species, and an important part of the food web that supports life across the tundra.
From the remote landscapes of Ellesmere Island to northern Canadian tundra, the Arctic hare has carved out a life in one of Earth's coldest environments. That ability to survive in such demanding conditions is what makes this Arctic white rabbit worth a closer look.
References Sources
- Parks Canada — Wapusk National Park: Small Mammals — information on Arctic hare identification, winter camouflage, and its role in the ecosystem.
- Parks Canada — Quttinirpaaq National Park: Ecosystems and Habitats — information about Arctic hare habitat and the Lake Hazen Basin.
- Parks Canada — Aulavik National Park: Ecological Integrity — information on Arctic hare habitat and feeding behaviour.
- Parks Canada — Gros Morne National Park Wildlife Guide — information on Arctic hare size and its southernmost population in Newfoundland.
- Visit Greenland — Land Mammals
No comments:
Post a Comment