Hares That Live in the Tundra

Hares are rabbit-like mammals that resemble their rabbit cousins, but hold several distinct differences. Hares move much faster than rabbits, with speeds of up to 45 miles per hour. Hares do not bury their young in burrows as rabbits do; they have not been domesticated. Hares that live in the tundra inhabit areas that include the upper north parts of Russia, Greenland and North America.

  1. Arctic Hare

    • The arctic hare lives in the North American tundra, which consists of northern Canada and parts of Alaska. Arctic hares do not hibernate and survive the extreme cold with behavioral and physical adaptations. Arctic hares have thick fur and a small, robust body structure that conserves body heat, as demonstrated by their short ears. They also are known to dig shelters in snow and huddle in groups to share warmth. Arctic hares can run at speeds of up to 40 miles an hour, and have a white coat that allows them to blend in with the environment and avoid predators.

    Snowshoe Hare

    • Snowshoe hares live in forest environments and prefer the thick undergrowth. They primarily inhabit the boreal forests that reach as far north as the Arctic Ocean. Snowshoe hares have large, furry feet that help them move on the snow. They also have a snow-white winter coat that turns brown each spring, as to allow the hare to avoid detection from predators.

    Mountain Hare

    • The mountain hare, otherwise known as the blue hare, tundra hare, variable hare, alpine hare, or Irish hare inhabits polar and mountainous ecosystems. Populations are located from Fennoscandia to eastern Siberia, along with isolated populations in the Alps, Ireland, Poland, the United Kingdom and Hokkaido. The Mountain Hare grows to a length of 46 to 65 centimeters and a mass of 2 to 4 kilograms. In the summer, all mountain hares have a brown coat, and in the winter all have a largely white coat. The tail however remains completely white year round. Mountain hares graze on twigs and bark, and also eat grasses if available.

    Alaskan Hare

    • The Alaskan hare is a species of hare that is found in the open tundra of western Alaska and the Aleutian Islands in the United States. The Alaskan hare prefers areas of high elevation near snow fields, and like many other hares that inhabit the tundra, has a white coat in the winter and a brown coat in the summer. They consume grasses, heath plants, sedges and dwarf willow, only seldom drinks water, as much of the water in their diet comes from the plants they consume.