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Hopping Unnoticed
| Article
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11741 |
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Section : |
NATURAL SCIENCE
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| Issue
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2 / 1994 |
1,711 Words |
| Author
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Stan Boutin
Stan Boutin isprofessorofzooThgy at the University of Alberta, in Edmonton, Alberta. |
Walking or skiing along a country path this winter you may spot other sets of tracks crossing your path. One type stands out in particular, with small, widely spaced clumps of prints--two large oval ones in front and two smaller ones splayed crookedly behind-- giving the impression of some fleeting creature bounding off into the bushes. If you are out at dawn, dusk, or in the evening and are especially lucky you may catch sight of their maker--the elusive snowshoe hare.
Also known as the varying hare, this secretive nocturnal animal is active year-round, despite the long North American winters. By day it rests in small depressions or under fallen logs, tightly curled to conserve its heat, while at night it ventures out to more open areas to feed. As its name suggests it is well adapted to winter conditions with its massive, thickly furred feet (up to six inches in length), which enable it to almost float on top of deep powdery snow. This gives it a distinct advantage over heavier, small-footed predators like the coyote that flounder in deep snow, and even over the lynx, whose immense paws are legendary The snowshoe hare resists the cold by growing a thick winter coat and reducing its activity, so it does not have to expend as much energy to stay warm as it would in summer. One of seven species of hares in North Amen-Ca, it is generally distinguished (as all hares are) from rabbits by its longer legs, larger ears, and larger body size. Another interesting characteristic is, as its common name in the United States suggests, the changing color of its coat.
In summer the snowshoe hare is a dusky brown, blending in well with shrubs and dense undergrowth. But beginning in October, the ears, feet, and wrists slowly begin to turn white, as new hairs grow in. These hairs are not entirely white, but tricolored, with white tips, tawny brown midsections, and black roots (which distinguish the snowshoe hare from the white-tailed jackrabbit and the arctic hare, which are also white in winter). The molting process spreads slowly over the entire body, talcing between 70 and 90 days to complete, so that the hare maintains good thermal insulation. By mid-December, most hares are entirely white, with only their black-tipped ears and dark eves distinguishing them from the snow--if, of course, there is any snow. The color change in autumn and back again in spring (beginning in March) is cued by changing day length, not temperature or snowfall, and in years when the snow comes late or leaves early, some snowshoe hares may be painfully obvious against a brown background. It is not known whether predation on hares is higher at such times, but they are certainly easier to spot.
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