# data[].attributes.body
Information from the Cleveland Museum

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Top 10 Amazing Facts About Emperor Penguins

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access Snowshoe Hare plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Epic reaches 75 million kids in class and after school.

Built on a collection of 40,000+ popular, high-quality books from 250+ of the world's best publishers, Epic safely fuels curiosity and reading confidence for kids 12 and under.

Get Started

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Snow Leopards kids' book from the leading digital reading platform with a collection of 40,000+ books from 250+ of the world's best publishers. Read now on Epic.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access Snow Leopards plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Epic reaches 75 million kids in class and after school.

Built on a collection of 40,000+ popular, high-quality books from 250+ of the world's best publishers, Epic safely fuels curiosity and reading confidence for kids 12 and under.

Get Started

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Snow Leopards kids' book from the leading digital reading platform with a collection of 40,000+ books from 250+ of the world's best publishers. Read now on Epic.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Read Explore My World Snow Leopards on Epic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Read Explore My World Snow Leopards on Epic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access Explore My World Snow Leopards plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Emperor penguins | The Greatest Wildlife Show on Earth | BBC Earth

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access Emperor Penguins plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Read National Geographic Readers: Hello, Penguin! on Epic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
National Geographic Readers: Hello, Penguin! kids' book from the leading digital reading platform with a collection of 40,000+ books from 250+ of the world's best publishers. Read now on Epic.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Polar Bears for Kids | Learn all about these apex predators

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Camels for Kids | Learn all about this adaptable animal

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What is a Meerkat? -  Fascinating Facts about Meerkats!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sidewinder Snakes Facts: The Masters of Desert Survival!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tortoises for Kids | Learn all about these old land turtles!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access Polar Bear plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Read The Life Cycle of a Polar Bear on Epic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Read The Life Cycle of a Polar Bear on Epic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access The Life Cycle of a Polar Bear plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access Camels plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Read My First Animal Library: Camels on Epic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Read My First Animal Library: Camels on Epic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access My First Animal Library: Camels plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Read National Geographic Readers: Meerkats on Epic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Read National Geographic Readers: Meerkats on Epic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access National Geographic Readers: Meerkats plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access Meerkats: Animal Safari plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Read Wild About Animals: Meerkats on Epic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Read Wild About Animals: Meerkats on Epic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access Wild About Animals: Meerkats plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access Sidewinders plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Epic reaches 75 million kids in class and after school.

Built on a collection of 40,000+ popular, high-quality books from 250+ of the world's best publishers, Epic safely fuels curiosity and reading confidence for kids 12 and under.

Get Started

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sidewinder kids' book from the leading digital reading platform with a collection of 40,000+ books from 250+ of the world's best publishers. Read now on Epic.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access Desert Tortoise’s Burrow plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access Arctic Hares plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Epic reaches 75 million kids in class and after school.

Built on a collection of 40,000+ popular, high-quality books from 250+ of the world's best publishers, Epic safely fuels curiosity and reading confidence for kids 12 and under.

Get Started

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Polar Bear Survival kids' book from the leading digital reading platform with a collection of 40,000+ books from 250+ of the world's best publishers. Read now on Epic.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access Polar Bears plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Harp seals spend most of their time diving and swimming in the icy waters of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. These sleek swimmers often hunt for fish and crustaceans at 300 feet (90 meters) and may dive to nearly 1,000 feet (300 meters). They are able to remain submerged for up to 15 minutes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Harp Seal Facts and Pictures -- National Geographic Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Harp seals spend most of their time diving and swimming in the icy waters of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. These sleek swimmers often hunt for fish and crustaceans at 300 feet (90 meters) and may dive to nearly 1,000 feet (300 meters). They are able to remain submerged for up to 15 minutes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access Harp Seal plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Read Polar Babies: Harp Seal Pups on Epic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Read Polar Babies: Harp Seal Pups on Epic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access Polar Babies: Harp Seal Pups plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access Emperor Penguins plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Epic reaches 75 million kids in class and after school.

Built on a collection of 40,000+ popular, high-quality books from 250+ of the world's best publishers, Epic safely fuels curiosity and reading confidence for kids 12 and under.

Get Started

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Super Cute! Baby Camels kids' book from the leading digital reading platform with a collection of 40,000+ books from 250+ of the world's best publishers. Read now on Epic.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
11 (New) Desert Tortoise Facts You Didn't Know [Must Check #5]

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Read My First Animal Library: Meerkats on Epic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Epic reaches 75 million kids in class and after school.

Built on a collection of 40,000+ popular, high-quality books from 250+ of the world's best publishers, Epic safely fuels curiosity and reading confidence for kids 12 and under.

Get Started

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Read My First Animal Library: Meerkats on Epic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
My First Animal Library: Meerkats kids' book from the leading digital reading platform with a collection of 40,000+ books from 250+ of the world's best publishers. Read now on Epic.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access Bark Scorpion plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access Bark Scorpions plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access Scorpions plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Epic reaches 75 million kids in class and after school.

Built on a collection of 40,000+ popular, high-quality books from 250+ of the world's best publishers, Epic safely fuels curiosity and reading confidence for kids 12 and under.

Get Started

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Scorpion kids' book from the leading digital reading platform with a collection of 40,000+ books from 250+ of the world's best publishers. Read now on Epic.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Five eggs the size of Ping-Pong balls crack open as the tiny desert tortoises inside break through the shells. The two-inch-long babies immediately crawl off in search of flowers and grasses to eat. These animals may be newly hatched, but they already have survival skills that will allow them thrive in their harsh, sizzling-hot habitats.

Burrow builders

Desert tortoises live in the deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. During the summer, ground temperatures in parts of their range can hit 140˚F. To beat the heat, desert tortoises use their strong forearms and tough nails to dig underground burrows where they can hide from the sun. Some of these tortoise tunnels are up to 32 feet in length. And the burrows can get pretty crowded. As many as 25 desert tortoises might bunk together in one shelter.

The animals also dig grooves into on the ground's surface to catch rainwater. After a storm, they'll return to these holes to slurp up the water that's collected inside. Once it's had a good drink, a desert tortoise can go up to a year without requiring fresh water again. The reptile stores the water it has consumed in its bladder and can later absorb the liquid when it needs to hydrate.

Tortoise tussle

Despite sometimes hanging out in burrows together, desert tortoises are pretty solitary. And sometimes when males come across each other, they'll fight to establish dominance. The dueling duo may use horns on their chests to try and knock each other over. The contest ends when one animal flips the other on its back. The losing tortoise can turn right side up by wiggling its body back and forth until it flips over. But after that, the tortoise knows who's boss. Sounds like a tortoise's shell isn't the only thing about it that's tough!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Five eggs the size of Ping-Pong balls crack open as the tiny desert tortoises inside break through the shells. The two-inch-long babies immediately crawl off in search of flowers and grasses to eat. These animals may be newly hatched, but they already have survival skills that will allow them thrive in their harsh, sizzling-hot habitats.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access Arctic Fox plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access Arctic Foxes plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access Arctic Fox Pups plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access Arctic Fox: Very Cool! plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instantly access Arctic Foxes plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This page contains Snowshoe Hare facts, and is part of our Arctic Animals series. This cold-weather specialist has a number of adaptations that allow it to live in the frozen north. Let's learn more about this speedy survivor ...

Snowshoe Hare Facts: Introduction

The Snowshoe Hare ( Lepus Americanus) is a forest dwelling hare found in the Boreal and Coniferous forests of North America. Its range extends from the shores of the Arctic Ocean south through the higher elevations of the Rocky, Appalachian, and Cascade Mountain ranges.

Scientific Stuff

Hares (and jackrabbits) are animals belonging to the genus Lepus. They are in the Leporidae family, which includes all rabbits and hares.

Snowshoe Hares are larger than most species of rabbits and hares. Compared to other hares, Snowshoe Hares have longer hind legs, smaller ears, and large, furry feet.

Showshoe Hare Adaptations

The Snowshoe Hare's large, furry feet act like snowshoes, allowing the animal to move on the top of deep snow. This is how the hare got its name. (It is also sometimes known as a 'Snowshoe Rabbit'.)

The feet can be up to 18 cm (7 in) long.

As we'll see, other adaptations for life in the cold north include a coat that changes color seasonally.

Like all hares, Snowshoe Hares are fast, nimble animals. They can jump as far as 3 meters (10 ft) in a single bound and run at bursts of 45 km per hour (28 mph).

Snowshoe hares are an important source of food for many predators. However, the hares' high speed and acceleration mean that they're not an easy meal!

What Does A Snowshoe Hare Look Like?

There are fourteen subspecies, but the average adult Snowshoe Hare weighs 0.9 to 1.8 kg (2 to 4 lb) in weight and is 41.3 to 51.8 cm (16 to 20.5 in) long.

Snowshoe Hares are covered in thick, layered fur that changes color with the seasons for camouflage. The Snowshoe Hare is also called a "Varying Hare" because its color varies depending on the season.

During the winter, Snowshoe Hares are snow-white, with black tips on their ears. During the spring thaw, it takes the hares ten weeks to change from white to brown.

The black tips on their ears remain all year around.

Snowshoe Hare Facts: Behaviour

Snowshoe Hares are mainly nocturnal. They use systems of trails in the undergrowth of the forest to look for food.

The video below shows how well camouflaged the Arctic Hare is in the winter:

What Do Snowshoe Hares Eat?

Snowshoe Hares feed at night on barks, shrubs, grasses, and plants and require 300 grams (10.5 oz) of food a day.

They use the trail systems to quickly and nimbly escape from predators.

During the day, Snowshoe Hares are mainly sedentary (sitting and not moving very far). They hide and rest in the underbrush or in shallow holes in the ground called forms.

Snowshoe Hare Life In The Wild

The average lifespan of a Snowshoe Hare is one year or less, but these hares are prolific breeders.

The Snowshoe Hare breeding begins in late winter and lasts into mid-summer. The timing of the breeding season varies depending on location. Snowshoe Hares do not hibernate.

Most female Snowshoe Hares have 3-4 litters per year. The average litter is between 3 and 5 leverets, but can be as large as 8.

Males fight for access to females during the breeding season and females may breed with 2-3 males per season.

The gestation period (the time it takes to develop before being born) for hares is 35-40 days. Female Snowshoe Hares can be pregnant with the next litter before the first litter is born.

Young hares are called "leverets" and are independent of their mother within 30 days of being born. Leverets are 'precocial' (able to fend for themselves shortly after being born), and are born able to see and to move around.

Population Cycles

At peak times within Snowshoe Hare populations there can be as many as 500-600 hares per square kilometer. Populations fluctuate in 10 year cycles depending on disease, food supply, and predators.

When the Snowshoe Hare population drops it directly impacts the predators that depend on them for food, especially lynx.

Snowshoe Hares communicate with each other using a variety of behaviors. Hares might thump their hind feet to warn others of danger. During the mating season, hares may hiss, grunt, snort, or growl to communicate with their mate.

If frightened or injured, hares make screaming or screeching noises.

Showshoe Hare Predators

The Snowshoe Hare has many predators, and is a good source of food for most small and mid-sized predators within the same habitat. Lynx, bobcats, fishers, foxes, coyotes, mountain lions, owls, hawks, black bears and wolves will all happily capture and eat a snowshoe hare.

Are Snowshoe Hares Endangered?

Snowshoe Hare populations throughout North America are strong and are neither endangered nor threatened.

10 Snowshoe Hare Facts

Snowshoe Hares live in the Northern and high altitude forests of North America.

They have unique adaptations to their environment, such as small ears; wide, furry feet; and color changing fur for camouflage.

Snowshoe Hares are mainly nocturnal using the cover of night to search for plants for food.

They make, use, and maintain complex systems of trails for traveling though the forests.

The natural predators of Snowshoe Hares are lynx, fox, coyote, and raptors.

They can produce 3-24 offspring within their lifespan.

Young hares are called "leverets" and are independent of their mother within a month of birth.

Snowshoe Hares can jump 3 meters in a single bound and can run 45 km per hour.

They communicate with each other through thumping their hind legs and through a variety of vocalizations.

Snowshoe Hares are not endangered or threatened.

Snowshoe Hare Facts Conclusion

We hope that you have enjoyed learning about the Snowshoe Hare. You can find out all about its close cousin, the Arctic Hare, here: Arctic Hare Facts.

If you want to discover more about the Arctic, check out this page: Arctic Facts.

You can find out more about amazing Arctic and subarctic animals here: Arctic Animals List.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Snowshoe Hare Facts, Information, Pictures & Video

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Snowshoe Hare facts, pictures, in-depth information & video for kids & adults. Learn about this speedy mammal, and its adaptations for living in the cold.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Snowshoe Hare Facts, Snowshoe Hare Appearance & Behavior, Snowshoe Hare Habitat