Arctic Hare Animal Facts | Lepus Arcticus

A Species Profile Arctic Hare

Lepus arcticus

White. Windproof. Wilderness-tough. Kelson - Public Domain Encyclopedia / A Animals / Arctic Hare Updated May 27, 2024 Index Overview Taxonomy Size Photos Did You Know Conservation Life Cycle Field Notes Humans Relations Article

Arctic Hare Distribution

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Found in 5 locations

🇨🇦 Nunavut Canada 🇨🇦 Northwest Territories Canada 🇨🇦 Quebec Canada 🇨🇦 Newfoundland and Labrador Canada 🇬🇱 Greenland

At a Glance

Wild Species Also Known As Polar hare, Polar rabbit, Arctic rabbit Diet Herbivore Activity Cathemeral+ Lifespan 3 years Weight 5.5 lbs Status Least Concern Did You Know?

Size: 43-70 cm body length; 2.5-5.5 kg-one of the largest hares in North America (range values widely reported in field guides and species accounts).

Scientific Classification

The Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus) is a large, cold-adapted hare of the North American High Arctic, known for seasonal coat color (white in winter), powerful hind legs, and group living in some areas.

Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Lagomorpha Family Leporidae Genus Lepus Species Lepus arcticus

Distinguishing Features

• Large hare with relatively short ears for heat conservation compared with many other hares
• Seasonal coat: typically white in winter; gray/brown in summer (varies by region)
• Dense fur and furred feet adapted for cold and snow
• Often found in open, treeless tundra; may form groups, especially in winter

Physical Measurements

Imperial Metric Length 2 ft (1 ft 6 in – 2 ft 7 in) Weight 9 lbs (6 lbs – 12 lbs) Tail Length 2 in (1 in – 4 in) Top Speed 37 mph Up to 60 km/h

Appearance

Primary Colors White Gray Brown Secondary Colors Black Cream Tan Skin Type Mammalian pelage: extremely dense insulating fur with seasonally changing coat; heavily furred feet/soles for insulation and traction on snow/ice; skin covered by fur except nose leather and paw pads (mostly insulated by fur). Distinctive Features

• Body size (adult): total length 43-70 cm; tail length 4.5-10 cm; ear length 6-9 cm; hind foot length 12-17 cm (commonly cited for Lepus arcticus; e.g., Animal Diversity Web species account).
• Mass (adult): typically 2.5-5.5 kg (reported range for Lepus arcticus; e.g., Animal Diversity Web species account).
• Cold-adapted proportions: relatively short ears (reduced heat loss) compared with many lower-latitude hares; compact head and thick neck fur in winter.
• Winter coat: very dense, long fur creating a rounded silhouette; designed for wind-swept ridges and polar desert cold where shelter is limited.
• Summer coat: shorter and less dense; gray to gray-brown, often with a coarse, grizzled appearance that blends with rock, lichen, and sparse tundra plants.
• Feet: densely furred, acting like insulating 'snowshoes' to distribute weight on snow and reduce conductive heat loss from contact with ice.
• Hind limbs: powerful, elongated hind legs adapted for rapid acceleration and bounding escape across open tundra; contributes to a tall, athletic rear profile when sitting alert.
• Ears: commonly show black tips (contrast visible against white winter coat); ear margins can appear dark in summer.
• Eyes: large, laterally placed (wide field of view), appearing dark/black; enhances predator detection in open habitats.
• High Arctic predators—Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus), wolves (Canis lupus), and raptors like gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) and snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus)—have led to cryptic fur color and fast, zigzag escape runs in Arctic hares.
• Herbivore dentition and muzzle profile consistent with browsing/grazing: feeds on woody plants (e.g., willow), grasses/sedges, and forbs such as saxifrages; winter diet often shifts to woody browse when herbaceous plants are unavailable.
• Behavior relevant to appearance in the field: can occur singly or in groups (sometimes aggregations of multiple individuals), especially in some High-Arctic locations; group presence can make the species appear more conspicuous on open terrain.

Photo Gallery

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Did You Know?

Size: 43-70 cm body length; 2.5-5.5 kg-one of the largest hares in North America (range values widely reported in field guides and species accounts).

Seasonal camouflage: molts to a white winter coat; in many areas becomes grayer/browner for summer to match exposed rock and tundra vegetation.

Cold-first design: shorter ears (about 6-8 cm) reduce heat loss compared with temperate hares-classic Arctic "reduced surface area" adaptation.

Snowshoe feet: densely furred soles and broad hind feet spread body weight on snow and add traction on ice.

Reproduction is slow for a hare: gestation about 47-51 days; litters commonly 2-4 (reported range 1-8) timed to the short Arctic growing season.

They can be surprisingly social: in some High-Arctic sites, Arctic hares form groups (sometimes dozens) for feeding and vigilance in open terrain.

Unique Adaptations

• Extreme insulation: very dense winter fur with a thick undercoat traps air, buffering against High-Arctic wind chill.
• Compact extremities: relatively short ears and limbs reduce exposed surface area, helping conserve body heat (Allen's rule in action).
• Furred, gripping feet: hair-covered foot pads insulate from ice and function like built-in snowshoes.
• Seasonal molt for camouflage: coat color tracks snow cover, reducing detection by Arctic foxes, wolves, and aerial raptors.
• Behavioral microhabitat choice: preference for windswept, low-snow patches lets them feed when deep drifts would otherwise block plants.
• High-latitude timing: breeding and rapid leveret growth are synchronized to the brief plant flush of Arctic summer.

Interesting Behaviors

• Group living and vigilance: In open polar desert, individuals often feed with heads up frequently; in some regions they aggregate, improving predator detection (a "many eyes" effect).
• 'Freezing' and burst escape: When threatened, they often rely first on stillness and camouflage, then explode into fast, zig-zag running to break a predator's pursuit line.
• Wind-ridge foraging: They commonly use exposed ridges and windswept slopes where snow is thinnest, accessing dwarf willow, dryas, grasses, and saxifrages.
• Snow sheltering: In severe weather they may tuck into snowdrifts or shallow scrapes for wind protection, reducing convective heat loss.
• Lagomorph digestion: Like other hares and rabbits, they practice caecotrophy (re-ingesting nutrient-rich soft feces) to maximize vitamins and protein from a low-quality winter diet.
• Seasonal diet switching: Summer includes more green plants; winter shifts toward woody browse (e.g., willow twigs/bark) and any available dried forbs/graminoids.

Cultural Significance

Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus) in the Canadian Arctic and Greenland has long been a key source of winter meat and warm fur for Inuit and other northern communities. Its changing coat and movements show when snow ends and spring begins.

Myths & Legends

In some Great Lakes Indigenous stories, a Great Hare is a hero and trickster who shapes the world and teaches by misadventures; not tied to a species, it uses the hare's cleverness and toughness.

In Inuit stories, the Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus) is a small, clever survivor. Tales—often with birds of prey or fox-like tricksters—show quick thinking beating bigger, stronger animals.

Circumpolar winter narratives sometimes treat the white hare as a living emblem of snow and endurance-an animal whose seasonal whitening blends it into the winter world, symbolizing adaptation to harsh northern conditions.

In Greenlandic and Canadian Arctic hunting camps, the Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus) was seen as a storm-season staple, more than just game— a sign of being ready and able to survive lean months.

Conservation Status

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant in the wild.

Population Unknown

Protected Under

• Not CITES-listed (species not generally subject to international trade controls).
• Occurs in multiple protected areas in Canada/Greenland (site-level protection varies).
• Harvest is typically regulated at territorial/national levels in parts of its range (e.g., managed under local/territorial wildlife regulations where hunting is permitted), rather than a single species-specific global legal protection.

Life Cycle

Birth 3 leverets Lifespan 3 years

Lifespan

In the Wild 1–5 years In Captivity 2–7 years

Reproduction

Mating System Polygynandry Social Structure Transient Breeding Season April-May (with births mainly May-June), varying with latitude and local conditions. Breeding Pattern Seasonal Fertilization Internal Fertilization Birth Type Internal_fertilization

Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus) mate in a short High Arctic spring. They are polygynandrous: males compete and both sexes may have multiple mates. Fertilization is internal; gestation about 50 days, 1 litter/year of 2–8 (often 3–4). Mothers care for well-developed young.

Behavior & Ecology

Social Herd Group: 10 Activity Cathemeral, Crepuscular Diet Herbivore Arctic willow (Salix arctica) browse (leaves/buds/twigs), reported as a key, repeatedly documented forage across High Arctic populations (e.g., Banfield 1974; Nowak 1999; IUCN/Smith & Johnston 2008; ADW Lepus arcticus accounts).

Temperament

Highly vigilant and wary; typical primary response to threat is freezing/crypsis followed by rapid flight (Fitzgerald & Keith, 1990). Intraspecific aggression occurs during breeding (chasing, boxing/striking with forelimbs), reflecting competition for mates typical of Lepus spp. (Fitzgerald & Keith, 1990). Seasonally flexible tolerance of conspecific proximity: low tolerance/spacing when solitary, but increased tolerance during winter aggregations (reported herding) (Fitzgerald & Keith, 1990).

Communication

Generally quiet; may emit high-pitched screams/squeals when captured or in extreme distress Fitzgerald & Keith, 1990 Low-intensity grunts or similar short-range sounds can occur during close interactions E.g., courtship/aggression), but vocal communication is limited compared to many social mammals (Fitzgerald & Keith, 1990 Visual signaling via posture and movement E.g., ear position, body orientation; rapid chase/boxing displays during breeding disputes) (Fitzgerald & Keith, 1990 Foot-drumming/thumping as an alarm signal Short-range substrate-borne cue), documented broadly in Leporidae and reported for Arctic hares in threat contexts (Fitzgerald & Keith, 1990 Chemical communication through scent Urine and fecal pellet deposition; scent marking around resting/foraging areas), used for spacing and reproductive signaling typical of Lepus spp. (Fitzgerald & Keith, 1990

Habitat

Show all Show less Tundra Shrubland Alpine Meadow Mountain Coastal Rocky Shore Cliff/Rocky Outcrop +1 Biomes: Tundra Alpine Terrain: Coastal Island Plains Plateau Mountainous Rocky Elevation: Up to 900 m

Ecological Role

Large High-Arctic primary consumer (tundra browser/grazer) and key prey base for terrestrial predators.

controls and shapes tundra vegetation structure via browsing and grazing pressure (especially on dwarf willows and other shrubs) transfers plant biomass to higher trophic levels (important prey resource supporting predators such as Arctic fox and wolves, and raptors where present) contributes to nutrient cycling through fecal deposition and urine, locally enriching tundra soils potential seed/propagule dispersal via endozoochory and fur transport (inferred from general herbivore ecology; strength varies by plant taxa and site)

Diet Details

Show all Show less Other Foods: Dwarf willow Mountain avens Sedges grasses Forbs Mosses Lichen Roots and rhizomes +2

Human Interaction

Domestication Status

Wild

Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus) is wild and not domesticated; no hare species has a long domestication history. They do poorly in captivity (high stress, need lots of space). Humans hunt or trap them for meat and pelts, sometimes manage them as game, study them, view them for tourism, and rarely keep them in zoos or as pets.

Danger Level

Low

• defensive bites/scratches if handled or cornered (not aggressive toward humans)
• zoonotic disease risk from handling carcasses (notably tularemia/Francisella tularensis in lagomorphs where present)
• ectoparasites (fleas/ticks/mites) and associated pathogen exposure risk during handling
• rare indirect risk via hunting/handling activities in extreme conditions (cold exposure/field hazards rather than the hare itself)

As a Pet

Not Suitable as Pet

Legality: Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus) is usually not legal as a home pet. Laws treat them as wildlife and often need permits for care, education, or zoos. Rules differ by region.

Care Level: Expert Only

Purchase Cost: Lifetime Cost: $10,000 - $50,000

Economic Value

Uses: Subsistence food (Indigenous and local harvest in Arctic regions) Fur/pelts for traditional and local use Cultural value in Arctic communities Ecological and physiological research value (Arctic adaptation, camouflage timing, predator-prey dynamics) Ecotourism/wildlife viewing value (Arctic landscapes) Products:

• meat (subsistence consumption)
• pelts/fur (traditional clothing/insulation and local craft uses)

Relationships

Predators 7

Arctic fox Vulpes lagopus Gray wolf Canis lupus Red fox Vulpes vulpes Wolverine Gulo gulo Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus Golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos Snowy owl Bubo scandiacus

Related Species 8

Alaskan hare Lepus othus Shared Genus Mountain hare Lepus timidus Shared Genus Snowshoe hare Lepus americanus Shared Genus European hare Lepus europaeus Shared Genus White-tailed jackrabbit Lepus townsendii Shared Genus Black-tailed jackrabbit Lepus californicus Shared Genus European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus Shared Family Eastern cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus Shared Family

Ecological Equivalents 4

Animals that fill a similar ecological role in their ecosystem

Alaskan hare Lepus othus Occupies a very similar High Arctic/subarctic tundra-hare niche: a large-bodied Lepus that functions as a tundra grazer/browser, with seasonal whitening across much of its range. Often cited as the closest ecological analogue within North America where ranges approach. Collared lemming Dicrostonyx groenlandicus Cold-adapted tundra herbivore that strongly links tundra vegetation to top predators (e.g., foxes, raptors). Like Arctic hares, lemmings are key prey in Arctic food webs and exhibit winter survival adaptations, including subnivean (below-snow) use. Muskox Ovibos moschatus Another High Arctic tundra herbivore that eats grasses and woody plants when they are available; shares tundra and Polar Desert habitat and short growing seasons, but is much larger and uses group defense rather than fleeing. Rock ptarmigan Lagopus muta Cold-adapted tundra herbivore with strong seasonal camouflage (white winter plumage) and a winter diet in some areas that includes buds and twigs of willows and other dwarf shrubs. Occupies similar open tundra and polar desert landscapes and faces overlapping predator communities such as raptors and foxes.

Arctic hares can run up to 40 miles per hour!

The arctic hare is the largest of all North American hares. It has long claws on all four feet, but these on its hind legs are especially long, to allow it to dig into packed ice and snow when it runs and to make a hole for shelter. It is also capable of hopping on its rear legs the way a kangaroo does, moving at speeds of as much as 30 miles per hour (48.3 km/h) as it hops.

When running with all four feet on the ground they can reach 40 miles per hour (64.4 km/h). Brown or blue-gray in the summer, arctic hares turn white in the winter to help camouflage them in the snow. In the northernmost parts of their range, they are white all year.

3 Arctic hare facts

• An arctic hare can hop like a kangaroo, using only its hind legs to propel it.
• Arctic hares don’t only eat plants, they have also been seen eating fish and meat.
• Arctic hares often live alone, but they sometimes gather in large groups consisting of several hundred animals.

You can check out more incredible facts about Arctic hares.

Scientific name

The scientific name for the arctic hare is Lepus arcticus. The word “Lepus” comes from the Latin word for hare, while “arcticus” refers to the natural habitat of these hares, the arctic. It is also sometimes called the “polar rabbit.”

The arctic hare family contains four subspecies:

• Lepus arct. arcticus
• Lepus arct. banksii
• Lepus arct. groenlandicus
• Lepus arct. monstrabilis

Evolution and Origins

There isn’t a lot of information regarding how arctic hares evolved, however, it is speculated that they traveled to North America and the Canadian region sometime when the ice sheet expanded during a glacial period on Earth millions of years ago. However, the arctic hare was historically important to Native Americans who hunted them for food and for their fur to make clothing. This type of hunting continues today.

There may also be a close relation to the European Hare which is found in Asia and Europe. Science believes at one point in time, the arctic hare and the Euripian Hare may have been the same species.

Appearance and Behavior

Arctic hares, along with other members of the hare family, are often confused with rabbits, but the two species, while related, are different animals. Hares typically have longer ears and longer hind feet than rabbits. The tail of a hare is longer as well. In the case of the arctic hare, its ears are actually shorter than other types of hares, which helps it to conserve heat in the cold climate in which it lives.In much of its range, the arctic hare is brownish-gray or bluish, but its upper coat turns white as winter approaches, though the fur on its belly remains slightly darker. This change helps to hide it from predators during different seasons. Arctic hares living in the far north are usually white all year since their environment is most often snowy. The very tips of their ears are always black.An arctic hare is about 17 to 25 inches (43 to 70 cm) long and weighs between 6.5 and 11 pounds (3 to 5 kg). This is about the same size as a cat. A large arctic hare, however, can get quite a bit bigger and weigh as much as 17 pounds (7 kg), about the same size as a small dog such as the Lhasa Apso or miniature schnauzer. The average arctic hare stands about as high as an adult human’s knees, though its ears will usually reach a bit higher than that.Though arctic hares are often solitary and live alone much of the time, they also will sometimes gather together in groups of anywhere from six to several hundred animals, huddling together for warmth in the harsh cold of the arctic winter. Such groups are referred to by several different names, including a down, band, husk, or warren.Hares are typically very shy, a necessary survival technique since they are hunted by many different predators. Though they will attempt to outrun a predator if necessary, they may choose to sit still so that predators won’t notice them. Arctic hares can also sit tall on their hind legs, scanning 360 degrees of their surroundings for predators, and hiding if they spot one.

Arctic Hare Habitat

Arctic hares live in the very northern parts of the North American continent. They range across much of Northern Canada, Northern Greenland, the Canadian Arctic Islands, Newfoundland, and Labrador. They thrive in the treeless tundra found in these areas and are not deterred by the bitter cold found in these places for much of the year.Their bodies are made to withstand the low temperatures of the Arctic. These hares have short ears to help them to conserve heat. They also have thick fur, compact bodies, small noses, and a high percentage of body fat that aids them in surviving in very low temperatures.

Arctic Hare Diet

Arctic hares are considered omnivores, as their diet normally consists exclusively of plants but with other food sources mixed in from time to time. Their normal food includes moss, lichen, and woody plants of all sorts. Depending on the season, they will also consume berries, buds, roots, leaves, and bark.In addition to plants, arctic hares have been observed eating fish and the stomach contents of dead animals such as reindeer. Since the arctic tundra can be an extremely harsh environment, this dietary adaptation benefits the hare by promoting survival through opportunistic eating.With the longest and straightest incisors in the hare family, arctic hares are also able to grab plants growing in awkward locations, such as between rocks, allowing them to find food where other animals might starve. In winter they will also dig down into the snow to find food.

Predators and threats

The arctic hare is an important food item for almost every predator that exists in the northern part of the North American continent. Without them, many meat-eating animals could not survive. Some of the arctic hare’s predators include the arctic fox, the red fox, the gray wolf, the ermine, snowy owls, and the Canada lynx.Humans are also traditional predators of this animal. Many people who live in the Arctic hare’s territory depend on hunting them for food and for their fur, which people make into the clothing of various sorts. These hares are sometimes the only food available for Native Americans living in the far north.The harsh weather can also pose a threat to the arctic hare, as it can be difficult to survive the bitter cold winter weather. This is especially true if the hare’s food sources are buried under deep snow. Hares can huddle together for warmth, but if they can’t find food they will end up starving to death

Reproduction, babies, and lifespan

Arctic hares mate in April or May. Although these hares often band together in large groups for feeding and for warmth, during breeding season they separate from one another and set up individual territories. During this time the males, called bucks, may spar over females, known as does, with the male literally placing his paws over the female’s back and engaging in a sort of boxing match with other males as he claims his mate.Eventually, each animal has its own place, though it is not unusual for one male to have more than a single female to breed within his territory. At this point, each of the females establishes a nest, typically in a sheltered depression next to a rock or behind a bush. She will line this spot with a layer of grass and then add a covering of her own hair to make the nest soft and warm.The female gives birth to a single litter of two to eight babies once per year, generally anywhere from late in the month of May through July, though in the northernmost parts of the hare’s territory, the babies may be born a bit later.

Unlike rabbit babies, which are born naked and blind, arctic hare babies are born with a complete fur coat and their eyes open. They can hop within a few minutes of being born. This helps them to escape predators from a very early age.The mother stays with her babies, called leverets, constantly for the first couple of days, but then the young are left to themselves more and more often as their mother ventures out in search of food.

The leverets begin to leave the nest when they are about two to three weeks old, but they’ll return when it’s time to nurse. The babies become independent quickly, and by the time they are eight to nine weeks old, they are fully weaned and on their own. They are able to breed and have babies of their own the following summer.It’s uncertain as to how long arctic hares can live, as it’s never been accurately measured. They are thought to have a lifespan of about five years in the wild. They don’t do as well if they are raised in captivity, living only about eighteen months when kept by humans.

Nobody knows why they don’t live as long in captivity, as such conditions often help animals by providing a plentiful food supply and a lack of predators, but it’s probable that the stress of being kept in artificial conditions shortens their natural lifespan.

Population

Arctic hares are not considered to be endangered and are listed as “Least Concern” (LC) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an organization that tracks the population status of all animals.

While there is no exact count regarding the numbers of arctic hares living in the wild, their population exists in large numbers across the North American arctic and seems to be stable. There is no reason to think that these animals are in danger of extinction at any time in the foreseeable future. 

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Arctic Hare Pictures

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How to say Arctic Hare in ...

Catalan Llebre polar Czech Zajíc polární German Polarhase English Arctic Hare Esperanto Arkta leporo Spanish Lepus arcticus Finnish Napajänis French Lièvre arctique Italian Lepus arcticus Latin Lepus arcticus Maltese Liebru tal-Artiku Dutch Poolhaas Polish Zając polarny Portuguese Lebre-ártica Chinese 北极兔

Sources

1. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2011) Animal, The Definitive Visual Guide To The World's Wildlife / Accessed November 4, 2008
2. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals / Accessed November 4, 2008
3. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia / Accessed November 4, 2008
4. Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species / Accessed November 4, 2008
5. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals / Accessed November 4, 2008
6. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals / Accessed November 4, 2008
7. David W. Macdonald, Oxford University Press (2010) The Encyclopedia Of Mammals / Accessed November 4, 2008

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Arctic Hare FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What does an arctic hare eat?

Arctic hares eat mostly woody, brushy foods such as willow twigs and bark, plus they eat moss, sedge grasses, leaves, buds, and berries when they can find them. They will also consume fish and other animal protein, plus they will eat the contents of the stomach of dead animals, such as caribou.

What does an arctic hare drink?

The arctic hare usually eats snow or chews on ice to get its water. While not all animals can do this without dropping their body temperatures too low to survive, this hare is adapted to live in areas where all of the water is frozen and so can eat snow without freezing to death.

Where are arctic hares found?

Arctic hares live in the far northern areas of the North American continent including Northern Canada, Northern Greenland, the Canadian Arctic Islands, Newfoundland, and Labrador. They are found in the cold tundra in these areas, where they can range through the open areas without their movements or their view of predators being restricted by trees.

How do arctic hares change color?

Arctic hares change color twice a year. They change from grayish-brown in the summer to white in the winter, and then back again when winter is over. The exact mechanism that triggers this change is uncertain. Some scientists think that it is caused by the sun’s cycle, meaning that as the days get shorter the hares turn white, and then as the days get longer they turn dark again. Other scientists suggest that it is the actual temperatures that trigger the change, so cold weather brings on the white coats while warmer weather prompt hares to turn back to grayish-brown.Whatever the exact mechanism that triggers change, arctic hares molt as winter approaches, meaning that they lose their old, dark hair as new white hair grows in to replace it. The same thing happens again as summer approaches, this time with the hares losing their white coats to have them replaced by new, darker fur for the warmer weather.In the northernmost parts of their territory, arctic hares remain white all year, providing better camouflage in areas where snow and ice are present most of the time.

What Kingdom do Arctic Hares belong to?

Arctic Hares belong to the Kingdom Animalia.

What phylum do Arctic Hares belong to?

Arctic Hares belong to the phylum Chordata.

What class do Arctic Hares belong to?

Arctic Hares belong to the class Mammalia.

What family do Arctic Hares belong to?

Arctic Hares belong to the family Leporidae.

What order do Arctic Hares belong to?

Arctic Hares belong to the order Lagomorpha.

What genus do Arctic Hares belong to?

Arctic Hares belong to the genus Lepus.

What type of covering do Arctic Hares have?

Arctic Hares are covered in Fur.

What are some distinguishing features of Arctic Hares?

Arctic Hares have thick fur that changes color with the seasons.

What is the average litter size for an Arctic Hare?

The average litter size for an Arctic Hare is 6.

What is an interesting fact about Arctic Hares?

Arctic Hares eat berries found in the snow!

What is the scientific name for the Arctic Hare?

The scientific name for the Arctic Hare is Lepus Arcticus.

What is the lifespan of an Arctic Hare?

Arctic Hares can live for 3 to 8 years.

How fast is an Arctic Hare?

An Arctic Hare can travel at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour.

View Arctic Hare Photos

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