Bigfoot: The Snowshoe Hare

by: Lorraine Julien

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As we do many mornings after a fresh snowfall, we were snowshoeing along some of our regular trails recently. The air was still and all was quiet except for the soft swooshing sound of the snowshoes. In the distance we could hear the occasional woodpecker noisily looking for his breakfast along with the raucous sound of the resident ravens. Diamonds sparkled in the fresh snow and there were tracks everywhere: cottontails, squirrels, grouse, a fox, a coyote, small rodents such as moles and voles, just to name a few. There was even evidence of a playful otter sliding down a bank quite a distance from the lakeshore.

Across our trail we noticed there were the usual rabbit tracks but, on closer inspection, they were not ordinary rabbit tracks: a Snowshoe Hare had crossed the path. The tracks of the heavily furred hind feet were 4-6” (10-15 cm) long and as much as 3” (7-8 cm) or more wide. The tracks appeared noticeably larger than rabbit tracks.

When Snowshoes jump, they make a four-print pattern typical of rabbits, except that the hind feet are nearly twice the size of the front feet. When running at top speed, the tracks may extend to 39-40” (1 meter) and you may only see the two hind or front prints at first.

The Snowshoe Hare:

• Can jump up to 3 meters (almost 10 feet) in one bound with speeds up to 45 km/h

• Has a good camouflage: In summer the gray-brown coat blends with the ground around it and in winter the coat turns white to blend with the snow. It is all white in winter except for black tips on the ears.

• Is found only in North America with a Canadian range extending across every province and territory. Its preferred habitat is in forested areas with dense undergrowth providing protection from predators and a good supply of food

• Has large, heavily furred hind feet, which enable it to travel easily over deep snow. The tracks look as though the hare is wearing fuzzy slippers!

• Its food is excreted at night as soft greenish pellets; the pellets are then eaten again later to be fully digested and excreted as hard brown pellets!

• Warns others of impending danger by pounding their hind feet; on hearing this signal other hares freeze on the spot or take off at top speed. Rabbits differ in this respect, as they tend to dash to underground warrens and hide.

• Its predators include: Humans, Red Fox, Squirrels, Coyote, Mink, Great Horned Owl, Northern Goshawk and the Canada Lynx

• Is generally silent but if disturbed or caught they can make a snorting or squealing noise

• Is a shy creature that is hard to spot as it mostly forages under the cover of night and usually sleeps during the day

The Snowshoe Hare was of special importance to native people, especially when larger game was not available. Since hares live in the same general area all their lives and regularly follow the same trails, they were relatively easy to trap.

It is a key prey species on which many other animals depend for food. With so many predators, Snowshoes are lucky to live to one year old though they could potentially live as long as 6 years if there were no predators. Unlike rabbits, Snowshoes are born with a furry coat, their eyes open and the ability to hop around after only 2 or 3 days. Young Snowshoes under two weeks of age are killed primarily by Red and Ground Squirrels.

Summer diet includes various grasses, clover, berries, and various wild flowers including dandelions. Winter diet includes buds, twigs, bark and, occasionally, carrion (sometimes its own kind).

It is only through their love of procreation that the species continues to thrive. One day last summer, we were walking on the laneway near our house when a group of perhaps 6 to 8 hares practically bumped into us. In fact, one or two actually brushed against our legs as they ran helter skelter. They literally had no fear and now that I think back, probably some males were intent on chasing females. A promiscuous male may mate with two dozen or more females so they are very busy animals!

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Please feel free to report any observations to Lorraine Julien at naturewatching@gmail.com  or Steve Blight at natureobservations@rogers.com