Mammals Active day and night

Arctic Hare

Lepus arcticus

iNaturalist Wikipedia

A master of sub-zero survival, the Arctic hare is built for the world's most extreme conditions. This high-speed herbivore uses its snowshoe feet and brilliant white camouflage to thrive where few others can.

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Quick Identification

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Size

43–70 cm (17–28 in) in length; 2.5–5.5 kg (6–12 lbs) in weight

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Colors

Bright white in winter with black ear tips; summer coat varies from brownish-gray to blue-gray depending on latitude.

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Key Features

Extremely long, powerful hind legs for sprinting
Short ears with distinctive black tips to minimize heat loss
Dense, multi-layered white fur that provides 20% body fat equivalent insulation
Large feet with thick fur that act as natural snowshoes

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active day and night

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Peak hours Variable; often most active during twilight (dawn and dusk) to avoid predators.

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Season Year-round; winter offers the best white-on-dark contrast in early/late season.

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Diet Primarily woody plants, willow twigs, roots, and mosses; they use their strong claws to dig through frozen crusts to reach vegetation.

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Habitat Open tundra, rocky plateaus, and coastal areas where the wind prevents deep snow accumulation.

Behavior

Arctic hares are the socialites of the tundra. Unlike many other hare species that prefer solitude, Arctic hares often gather in massive groups known as huddles, which can include hundreds of individuals. This behavior is a survival strategy, providing extra warmth against the bitter wind and more eyes to watch for predators like Arctic foxes and snowy owls. When one hare senses danger, the entire group can scatter in a flash of white, reaching speeds of up to 40 mph.

These hares are remarkably well-adapted to their environment, digging deep "forms" or burrows into the snow to sleep and stay warm. They are surprisingly bold and will often stand tall on their hind legs like tiny sentinels to scan the horizon. While they are usually peaceful, males will engage in "boxing" matches during the breeding season to establish dominance and win over partners.

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Camera Tips

Capturing an Arctic hare on a trail camera requires careful consideration of exposure. Because their fur is a brilliant, reflective white, cameras often overexpose the image, leaving you with a "white blob" against the snow. If your camera allows, set the exposure compensation to -1 or -2. Position your camera at a low angle, roughly 12 inches off the ground, to capture their impressive scale when they stand on their hind legs.

Look for "shelter rocks"—large boulders that provide a break from the wind. Arctic hares love to huddle on the leeward side of these rocks. You can often find their presence by looking for compact, round droppings or the unique "snowshoe" tracks they leave behind. Placing a camera near a patch of exposed dwarf willow can also yield great results, as this is a preferred food source during the lean winter months.

Since the Arctic environment is incredibly harsh, ensure your camera is rated for sub-zero temperatures and use lithium batteries, which perform much better in the cold than alkaline ones. A fast trigger speed is essential; these hares are lightning-fast, and a slow camera will often capture only a blurry white tail as they zip out of the frame. If your camera has a time-lapse mode, it can be a great way to monitor a large huddle over several hours without needing to trigger the motion sensor constantly.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Arctic Hare.

Snowshoe Hare

Smaller with longer ears and a brownish tint to the underfur even in winter; prefers forested habitats rather than open tundra.

Mountain Hare

Found in Eurasia rather than North America; typically smaller and has a slightly different head shape.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Arctic hares are active both day and night, a trait necessitated by the long periods of continuous light or darkness in the Arctic. However, they are often most active during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk when they forage for food.

Since Arctic hares live in remote tundra regions, they are rarely found in traditional backyards. However, if you live in their northern range, maintaining natural low-growing shrubs like willow and keeping rocky areas clear of debris can encourage them to visit.

Their diet consists mostly of woody plants, including willow buds, twigs, and bark. In the summer, they expand their diet to include saxifrage, crowberry, and various grasses and mosses.

No, Arctic hares are specialists of the treeless tundra and rocky barrens. They avoid forested and suburban areas, which are more commonly inhabited by their cousins, the Snowshoe Hare or the Eastern Cottontail.

Arctic hares are significantly larger and have much shorter ears relative to their body size. In winter, Arctic hares are pure white all over (except the ear tips), whereas Snowshoe hares are smaller and have a slightly different lanky proportion.

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