THE SNOWSHOER a

The snow-shoe hare, one of our most common mammals, is often mis-
takenly referred to as a rabbit. This particular hare has very large
snowshoe-shaped feet, covered with dense hair. This enables it to run
lightly on heavy snow, hence the name "snowshoe hare".

Hares are somewhat different from rabbits, as hares are born with
eyes open, a hairy body and are able to run about only hours after
birth. Rabbits have none of these characteristics.

Snowshoe hares are active all year round, and since they have
little defence, they must depend on camouflage for protection. During
spring, the white coat falls out and is replace by brown hair, while in
late fall the opposite exchange takes place. All this occurs in an ef-
fort to avoid such predators as hawks, owls and the crafty fox. Some
hares, because of genetic mutations or changes, remain black all year
round, and thus are in great danger while foraging in the white
winterland.

Hares are most active between dusk and dawn when they do most of
their feeding. They spend the daylight hours resting for later activity.

During winter, tracks may be found everywhere
in the snow and some areas are utilized so heavily

Rees that deep paths called "runs" are formed between
: trees. These same areas are unbelievably void of
A) thare during the day: Tracks may.’deceive the un-
trained eye as to path direction as the hind feet
jump slightly beyond the front in a normal gait.

Hares survive winter on foods like twigs and
f the bark of such trees as cherry, willow and as-
od ———_ pen. One may often find signs of winter feeding
by looking for diagonally cut edges of tender
a young branches, or the absence of bark on older

growth. At times, these signs may be discovered
high above a hare's reach. This is an indication
of snow depth during the past winter. The deeper
the snow, the greater access the hare has to young branches. Such a
diet of woody material may suggest the content and fibre of pellets, or
droppings. If a pellet was closely examined and broken apart, its "saw-
dust" consistency would be obvious. As you may well understand, only a
small amount of nutrition may be available from twigs unless an extreme-
ly efficient digestive system is involved. In the case of hares, they
may eat their own pellets and gain more nutrition form them, since in-
troduced bacteria in the pellet enables further breakdown of the
original food material the second time around.

As you can imagine, this diet of twigs may seem pretty dry; there-
fore hares are anxious to get their first taste of new spring growth.
For this reason, one may often see hares during early spring along
roadsides feeding on young plants. Roadsides are usually free of snow
before woodlands, making it possible for early availability of young
grassy shoots.

Hares are Known for their ability t6 reproduce rapidly. This is the
species' way of surviving heavy predation. Each summer, females may have
two or three litters of three or four young, which are born ina grass
depression in the ground.

Young bunnies are nursed for a few days in the nest. Nursing may
continue on occasion even after the young bunnies are weaned.

Hares are interesting little mammals and can provide many hours
of entertainment through observation in the field.

Pe ge

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