White all year
In the far north it stays white all year. Further south it turns grey-brown for summer.
Arctic tundra
Arctic hare
Lepus arcticus
A big hare that is white all over in the far north, apart from black tips to its ears.
- Size
- About 60cm long
- Look for it
- All year round
- Where
- Tundra in Greenland and Arctic Canada
Bounds after you, then sits up to look. Move your pointer and see.
When to look
Arctic hare
Good to know
Six things about the arctic hare
A fast runner
It can run at 40 miles an hour, and sometimes hops upright on its back legs like a kangaroo.
Huddles of hares
In winter, arctic hares gather in flocks of dozens, or even hundreds, to keep warm and watch for foxes.
Short ears
Its ears are shorter than those of other hares, so less heat is lost.
Digging for dinner
It digs through snow with its claws to reach willow twigs, moss and lichen.
Ready to run
Leverets are born with fur and open eyes, and can run within minutes.
The real thing
Photos of the arctic hare
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Photos are from Wikimedia Commons, used under the free licences shown. They have been resized, and cropped where they appear in link previews.
How to spot one
Look for white dots on a brown summer hillside: the hares stay white after the snow has gone, so they stand out.
How to help
Britain's own mountain hare is a close relative. Support moorland that is managed with wildlife in mind.
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