The U.K.’s mountain hares are more prevalent in Scotland’s highlands than in the lower half of the country. They can also be found in the tundra regions of northern and eastern Europe. Their spread is similar to that of their cousins, Lepus articus, and the Arctic Hare. Because they live in areas of sparse vegetation, mountain hares are often seen as solitary creatures.
Similar to rabbits, mountain hares are larger than most rabbits. They are smaller than brown and have shorter ears.
This coat changes with the seasons. They can be a beautiful white during winter, and a brown/grey in the summer. Their tips are darker at the top of their ears, and sometimes their feet. Their white tails are long and wavy throughout the year.
Here are some quick facts about the Mountain Hare
| Species Name: | Lepus timidus |
| Family: | Leporidae |
| Care Level | Moderate |
| Temperament: | Elegy |
| Color Form: | Winter: White, Blue/Grey; Summer: Brown/Grey |
| Lifespan: | 3-4 Years |
| Size: | 1.7 ft; 6.8 lbs. |
| Diet: | Herbivores |
| Minimum Enclosure Size: | 24 sq. ft |
| Attachment Set-up: | 8x8x8 living space, 24×24 exercise area |
| Compatibility: | Low |
Mountain Hare Overview
The mountain hare is an iconic species of upland, best known for its camouflage. Because they have a blue undercoat, which keeps them warm all year round, they are sometimes called the “blue Hare”.
These hares cannot be kept as pets as they are not domesticated and can’t be fed.
The distribution of mountain hares was much wider than it is today. Many hundreds of years ago, the Romans introduced the brown Hare to the U.K. The mountain hares were then moved into the higher lands.
They are more resilient than brown hares and can eat tougher heather and other plants that are common to moorland areas. Brown hares can be aggressive towards other species, and they will drive out beneficial native species in the lowlands where they live.
There have been attempts to reintroduce mountain hares in the British uplands and in the Scottish Highlands. These populations are now almost extinct. There are two core communities left in the Highlands: one in the Southern Uplands and one in the Peak District.
Despite the decline in mountain hares’ overall population, the animal still has a conservation status of “Least Concern.”
What is the cost of mountain hares?
Mountain hares cannot be sold, bought, or reproduced as domesticated animals, so it is unlikely that one will ever be for sale. We don’t know how much a wild or domesticated mountain hare might cost.
The Typical Behavior and Temperament
Mountain hares’ social organization is an interesting aspect of their behavior patterns. This is a rare example a male-dominated system. Multiple males from the same community try to conceive with one female at a time during the year when it is most common. Fighting among males is a common result of this behavior.
Mountain hares are nocturnal animals. They will often take over burrows left by other animals. They might occasionally dig their own burrows using their large front paws, but this is rare.
Mountain hares spend most of their time in burrows after giving birth. Only the leverets, however, live in burrows. The opening will be open to the mothers, who will watch.
Adult hares wander around the countryside, often resting in small depressions in the ground or in the snow in order to escape high winds. These depressions are known as “forms”. They tend to leave the form after a short time and return to it again. They sleep only for a few minutes and then spend their day’s awake grooming or scavenging.
Appearance and Varieties
There aren’t many mountain hare colors because they were never domestically bred. They change their color twice a year in colder areas for survival reasons. Mountain hares are brown in warmer climates, with off-white underbellies or paws.
The rabbit will shed its brown fur to become a white one if it is cold enough to snow. Point markings can be found on the ears, around the eyes, and on the feet. They often have brown spots on their feet, black spots around the ears, and white rings around the eyes.
How to Care for a Mountain Hare
Mountain hares should not be kept as pets. It is not clear how to care for them. Mountain hares can be kept in zoos all over the globe, including the Munich Zoo in Germany.
They must live in an enclosure of at least 24×24 feet if they are to be able to move around in it. This area is for their exercise and encourages their natural wandering behavior. These enclosures can have dramatic effects on mountain hares’ lives, as their natural lifestyle has been altered.
Are Mountain Hares able to get along with other pets?
Mountain hares are prey for many larger animals due to their high climatic conditions. They are considered a “prey” animal in the animal food chain hierarchy and provide food for predators such as wildcats or eagles.
Mountain hares are independent creatures who spend their time alone. They don’t live with any other members of their community or family, and only come together when they are reproducing.
Leverets grow quickly. They can start eating plants as soon as they turn 2 weeks old. They are able to come out of their burrows and eat with their mother for around 5 weeks. Mountain hares will often go their own way at this time.
How to feed your mountain hare
Over the past century, mountain hares have had to adapt their diet in order to survive in their current environment. These hares eat mainly leaves, heather, and twigs from the U.K. uplands.
Lepus timidus’ overall diet varies depending on the season, habitat, and region. Summer is when hares that live in forests eat the most leaves and twigs. Tundra-dwelling Hares only eat alpine plants. They have been observed eating bark, lichen, and grass during times of hardship or drought.
Heather is the main food source during winter when all other plants and lichens are covered by snow.
How to Keep Your Mountain Hares Healthy
The tundra’s higher areas have mountain hares that are less prey and better camouflage than other members of their hare family. They live on average 3-4 years in the wild.
They can live for varying lengths of time in captivity. They live longer life because they are less likely to be hunted by prey. Their nomadic lifestyle in captivity is so different that sometimes they live shorter.
Breeding
Most hares do not reproduce within their first year. After reaching maturity, females may have one to two litters per year with up to five young. Three litters can be possible if breeding takes place in the spring.
It is interesting to note that the litter’s weight correlates directly with the mother’s.
The mountain hare’s breeding season is from January to September. The gestation period of the mountain hare is between 47 and 54 days.
Are Mountain Hares suitable for you?
Mountain hares can be independent and skittish, but they are strong and independent animals. As it is such a difficult task, there are no records of mountain hares being tamed for pet purposes. It is best to choose a domesticated rabbit over a wild animal if you are looking to keep a similar animal as a pet.
What distinguishes a hare from a mountain hare?
In the summer, the mountain hare has a grey-brown coat with a blue tint that turns white in the winter – only the ear tips remain black. Even in winter, the Irish hare can be brown, with a reddish tint to its coat. Mountain hares are bigger than rabbits, but smaller and have shorter ears than brown hares.
Hares are they friendly?
Hares, despite their bigger size, are no more harmful than rabbits. They are often calm and docile. They, like rabbits, will bite if they feel threatened. Fortunately, this is rarely an issue.
What is the name of a female hare?
Female hares are referred to as Jills, while male hares are referred to as Jacks. Females are somewhat bigger than males.
What are three fascinating hare facts?
Hares are a kind of rodent that belongs to the genus Lepus. Hares are bigger than typical rabbits, quick, and have long ears. Unlike baby rabbits, infant hares are born with their eyes open and entirely furred. Hares have babies on the ground, whereas rabbits have nests.
Hares are they intelligent?
The Belgian Hare is one of the most intelligent and energetic rabbit breeds, with the ability to train rabbits to respond to the sound of their name. They are easily startled by sudden noises or movements because of their active nature and alert temperament.
What kind of food does a mountain hare consume?
Heather (particularly Calluna vulgaris), grasses, rushes, and sedges make up their diet. Mountain hares are also known as blue hares or, more popularly, white hares or snow hares in the winter.
In the winter, where do hares live?
In the winter, hares frequently use surrounding woods for daytime refuge. The majority of a brown hare’s body is hidden beneath ground level in its shallow shape. When hares are dug into their shapes in this manner, they might be absolutely unnoticeable even in the shortest of arable crops.
Mountain hares do they dwell underground?
Mountain hares are nocturnal creatures. They frequently take up holes abandoned by other animals. They may, in rare circumstances, dig their own burrows with their enormous front paws. Mountain hares only spend time near burrows after giving birth, and only the leverets reside in them.
How old are brown hares?
The brown hare is bigger than rabbits and lives for four years. Adult hares typically live for 3 to 4 years, although they can live much longer. Brown hares were brought from the other side of the North Sea during the Iron Age.
Are mountain hares uncommon?
Mountain hares were once prevalent over most of the United Kingdom, but they are now only found in Ireland and portions of Scotland. The Peak District has a considerably smaller isolated population that is under threat.