Snowshoe Hare
Lepus americanus
Silhouette: Maha Ghazal · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderLagomorpha (Lagomorphs)
- FamilyLeporidae (Hares and Rabbits)
- GenusLepus (Hares and Jackrabbits)
- SpeciesLepus americanus (Snowshoe Hare)
About the Snowshoe Hare
The snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), also called the varying hare or snowshoe rabbit, is a species of hare found in North America. The "snowshoe" moniker refers to the hare's large hind feet, which prevent it from sinking into soft snow, much like snowshoes.
The hare has two seasonal coats which aid in camouflaging the animal. In summer, the hare is covered in short, brown fur; in winter this is exchanged for a longer coat of white fur. The name "varying hare" refers to this seasonal change in appearance.
A major predator of the snowshoe hare is the Canada lynx. Historical records of animals caught by fur hunters over decades show the lynx and hare numbers rising and falling in a cycle, which has made the hare known to biology students worldwide as a case study of the relationship between numbers of predators and their prey.
The snowshoe hare was first described in 1777 by the German naturalist Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben. He called it the American hare, and placed it in the genus Lepus, noting that it was intermediate in size between the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and the mountain hare (Lepus timidus) but had longer hindfeet than the... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Snowshoe Hare in Yellowstone National Park
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Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isle Royale National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Gros Morne National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 3 | Katmai National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Denali National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Cape Breton Highlands National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 6 | Wrangell-St. Elias National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Wood Buffalo National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 8 | Acadia National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | Kenai Fjords National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 10 | Yosemite National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Snowshoe Hare in Yellowstone National Park?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Snowshoe Hare sighting in Yellowstone National Park, based on 88 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Snowshoe Hare in Yellowstone National Park?
May has the highest sighting rate for Snowshoe Hare in Yellowstone National Park in our monthly data.