Mountain Hare

The Mountain Hare, also called the Lièvre variable due to its seasonal coat change, is a cold-adapted lagomorph found across northern Eurasia and mountainous regions further south. It is renowned for turning white in winter to camouflage against snow, contrasting with its brown-grey summer coat. This species is a key herbivore in tundra, moorland, and boreal forest ecosystems, and an important prey species for many predators.

Northern Europe (Scotland, Scandinavia, Fennoscandia, Baltic states, Alps, Ireland), and across northern Asia/Siberia to Japan (Hokkaido)

Found across northern Europe including Scandinavia, Scotland, Ireland, the Baltic states, and Russia; extends across Siberia to the Russian Far East and Hokkaido, Japan. Isolated relict populations occur in the Alps and other European mountain ranges. Absent from most of central and southern Europe outside mountainous refugia.

Altitude and depth

Sea level to over 2500m in alpine regions; in Scotland typically found between 300-1200m on moorland and mountain habitats.

Seasonal movements

Undergoes a dramatic seasonal molt, turning from brown-grey summer fur to white winter fur (except the Irish subspecies, which stays brownish year-round). Does not hibernate but reduces activity and shelters more during severe winter weather.

Inhabits tundra, moorland, heathland, boreal forest edges, and alpine meadows above the treeline. In Scotland it favors heather moorland, while in Scandinavia it occupies coniferous forests and subarctic tundra. Alpine populations live in high mountain grasslands near the snowline.

Adaptations to its environment

Exhibits camouflage through seasonal coat color change synced with photoperiod, has furred feet acting as snowshoes for movement on snow, and possesses thick winter fur for insulation. Body extremities like ears are shorter than in the Brown Hare, reducing heat loss in cold climates.

Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN due to its wide distribution and large overall population, though some regional populations (e.g., Scotland, Ireland) show concerning declines. Local declines are driven by habitat loss, hybridization, and competition with introduced Brown Hares.

Estimated population

Global population is unknown precisely but considered large and stable overall, though UK and some European populations are declining; Scottish populations alone are estimated in the hundreds of thousands but have dropped significantly in recent decades.

Main threats include habitat degradation from land-use change, overgrazing, climate change reducing snow cover (mismatching camouflage), competition and hybridization with the introduced European Brown Hare, and unregulated hunting in some regions.

Diseases and parasites

Susceptible to parasites such as ticks, fleas, and intestinal worms, as well as diseases like European Brown Hare Syndrome (EBHS) and myxomatosis in some regions, particularly where contact with Brown Hares occurs.

Protected under various national wildlife laws in the UK, EU Habitats Directive (Annex V) regulations, and hunting quotas in Scandinavia and Russia. Moorland management and predator control programs sometimes indirectly benefit populations, though sustainable hunting management remains debated.

Recommended actions

Recommended actions include stricter regulation of hunting quotas, habitat restoration of heather moorland and tundra, monitoring of climate-driven camouflage mismatch, and control of Brown Hare range expansion to limit hybridization and competition.

Compact body with a grey-brown coat in summer that turns white in winter (except Irish subspecies), black-tipped ears, and a tail that remains white year-round unlike the Brown Hare's black-topped tail. Fur is dense and soft, especially on the feet, aiding cold adaptation.

Size

Body length ranges from 45-65 cm, with ears measuring 6-9 cm, shorter than those of the Brown Hare.

Weight

Typically weighs between 2.5 and 5.3 kg, with females often slightly heavier than males.

Distinctive features

Distinguished from the Brown Hare by its shorter ears, more rounded body shape, white winter coat, and white (not black-topped) tail. It also has furrier feet suited to snow travel.

Differences between males and females

Minimal sexual dimorphism; females are generally slightly larger and heavier than males, but coloration and general appearance are similar between sexes.

Generally solitary or found in loose aggregations, especially in open habitats where multiple hares may feed near each other without forming true social groups. Some seasonal clustering occurs in favorable feeding areas.

When it is active

Primarily crepuscular and nocturnal, though can be active during the day especially in remote undisturbed areas or during the breeding season.

Diet

Herbivorous, feeding on heather, grasses, sedges, dwarf shrubs, and in winter, bark and twigs when other vegetation is scarce. Diet shifts seasonally based on availability of forage under snow cover.

Communication

Communicates primarily through body language, thumping hind feet as an alarm signal, and scent marking via glands and droppings to convey territorial or reproductive information. Vocalizations are rare but include distress squeals when threatened.

Interactions with other species

Preyed upon by golden eagles, foxes, stoats, wildcats, and birds of prey; competes with introduced Brown Hares in overlapping ranges, sometimes leading to hybridization. Acts as an important prey base supporting predator populations in northern ecosystems.

Role in its ecosystem

Serves as a key herbivore and prey species in tundra and moorland ecosystems, helping shape vegetation structure through grazing and supporting predator populations as a primary food source.

Breeding season occurs primarily from January to August with multiple litters possible per year. Gestation lasts about 50 days, producing litters of 1-4 leverets that are precocial and able to move shortly after birth.

Raising the young

Female mountain hares provide minimal direct parental care typical of hares; leverets are left hidden in separate forms and visited briefly by the mother for nursing, usually once daily, until weaned at around 4 weeks.

Maturity and lifespan

Reaches sexual maturity around 1 year of age; lifespan in the wild averages 3-5 years, though individuals can live up to 9-10 years in favorable conditions with low predation.

Classification

Mammalia > Lagomorpha > Leporidae > Lepus > Lepus timidus

Subspecies

Several subspecies recognized including L. t. timidus (Scandinavia/Russia), L. t. scoticus (Scotland), L. t. hibernicus (Ireland, sometimes considered a separate species L. hibernicus), L. t. varronis (Alps), and L. t. ainu (Japan/Hokkaido).

Scientific synonyms

Lepus borealis, Lepus variabilis (older names once used before consolidation under L. timidus)

Recent studies

Recent research has focused on climate change effects on coat-color mismatch (white hares against snowless backgrounds increasing predation risk) and genetic studies examining hybridization dynamics with Brown Hares in the UK and Fennoscandia.

Genome and DNA

Has a diploid chromosome number of 2n=48, similar to other Lepus species, with genetic studies revealing hybridization zones with Lepus europaeus where ranges overlap.

Compared with similar species

Compared to the Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus), the Mountain Hare has shorter ears, a more compact body, a white winter coat, and a white tail versus the Brown Hare's black-topped tail and year-round brown coloring. It is more cold-adapted and found at higher latitudes and altitudes.

Mountain Hares are one of the few mammals in the UK that turn white in winter, a rare trait among British wildlife. They can run at speeds up to 60 km/h to evade predators, and in some regions, all-white 'blue hares' have become an iconic symbol of the Scottish Highlands.

Where and how to see it

Best observed in the Scottish Highlands during late winter when hares stand out white against snow-covered moorland, particularly at dawn or dusk. Scandinavian tundra and alpine regions in early morning also offer good viewing opportunities with minimal disturbance.

Risks to humans

No notable risk to humans; the species is not aggressive and poses no direct danger, though it can carry ticks or parasites transmissible in rare cases.

Human uses

Historically and currently hunted for meat and fur in parts of Scandinavia, Russia, and Scotland, and managed as a game species; also studied scientifically for insights into climate adaptation and camouflage evolution.

Myths and legends

In Scottish and Celtic folklore, hares including the Mountain Hare have long been associated with witches, moon deities, and shape-shifting myths, often seen as mystical or otherworldly creatures linked to fertility and the lunar cycle.