Arctic Hare | The Speedster of Greenland's Tundra

Arctic hare facts

The Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus) isn't your backyard cottontail. Growing up to 70 centimetres long and weighing up to 7 kilograms, these animals are built for polar survival. Their bodies are 20% fat – not excess weight, but crucial insulation and energy storage.

In Greenland's south, Arctic hares moult twice yearly, sporting brown or grey summer fur before transforming to winter white. Further north, where summer's fleeting, they stay white year-round.

Key facts that make these animals remarkable:

• They can jump over most humans – powerful hind legs launch them 2 meters high

• Their eyes provide 360-degree vision without turning their heads

• Black eyelashes protect against snow glare like built-in sunglasses

• They're one of the largest lagomorph species on the planet

• Their ears are shorter than rabbits', reducing heat loss in frigid temperatures

Arctic hare lifespan

In Greenland's wilderness, these animals live fast. The Arctic hare's lifespan typically ranges from three to five years in the wild. It's short by mammal standards, but when you're evading predators and enduring temperatures that'd freeze most creatures, every year's an achievement.

Arctic hares don't fare well in captivity – they rarely survive beyond eighteen months when confined. The cold tundra isn't just their habitat; it's where they thrive. Scientists tracked one female, nicknamed BBYY, who covered 388 kilometres over 49 days across Ellesmere Island. That's the range these animals need.

Arctic hare mating

Breeding season occurs around April or May, dubbed 'March Madness' by observers and 'Midnight Madness' in the far north, where the sun lingers. Unlike most animals that congregate during mating, Arctic hares disperse and pair off, though males often visit multiple females.

Courtship can be chaotic. Males scramble around a female who might fight off several before selecting a mate. After 53 days of gestation, females give birth to up to eight leverets (typically five) between May and July.

Leverets are born fully furred – unusual among lagomorphs and essential for Arctic survival. They're mobile shortly after birth and independent within two weeks. By late July, they're nearly full-grown, ready to breed by next season.

What do Arctic hares eat

The Arctic hare's diet is primarily herbivorous, with woody plants making up the bulk of its nutrition. Arctic willow alone constitutes 95% of their year-round diet. During Greenland's brief summers, its menu expands to include saxifrage, crowberry, dwarf willow, lichens, mosses, berries, leaves, and roots.

Here's where things get interesting – these herbivores aren't strict vegetarians. When Greenland's harsh winters make food scarce, Arctic hares resort to scavenging. They've been documented eating fish remains and even caribou stomach contents. It's not preferred, but Arctic survival demands flexibility.

They also practice coprophagy, eating their own droppings to extract every nutrient. While unappetizing, its efficient adaptation is shared among lagomorphs.

For hydration, forget unfrozen water sources. Arctic hares simply eat snow and ice – a practice that'd cause hypothermia in most mammals. Their specialised metabolism handles this without issue.

Arctic hare predators

Being an Arctic rabbit means constant vigilance. The arctic hare predators list reads like a who's who of Arctic carnivores. Arctic wolves top the threat hierarchy – even juvenile wolves can successfully hunt adult hares. Arctic foxes and ermines target younger hares, while aerial threats come from gyrfalcons, snowy owls, rough-legged hawks, and peregrine falcons.

Gyrfalcons carry hares back to nests, cutting them in half first. Scientists have found hare bones incorporated into gyrfalcon nest structures on Ellesmere Island. The snowy owl's French name derives from 'harfang,' meaning 'hare-catcher.'

Defense strategies are impressive. That white winter coat provides camouflage against snow. When spotting danger, Arctic hares freeze completely, becoming nearly impossible to detect. If that fails, they rely on incredible speed – 60 kilometres per hour in zigzag patterns that make interception difficult.

Social behaviour shifts seasonally. During summer, Arctic hares favour solitude or small groups. Come winter, they congregate in dozens or hundreds. More eyes mean earlier predator detection.