Mountain hare

Scientific Name: Lepus timidus 

Family: Leporidae

Appearance: Hares are larger and leaner than rabbits, with longer legs and longer, black-tipped ears. Mountain hares have greyer fur than brown hares, and their fur turns white in winter for camouflage against snow.

Height: 45-65 cm Length: 60 cm
Weight: 4 kg

Natural history: Being better adapted to colder, snowier conditions than brown hares, mountain hares are found in Scotland’s highlands and the Peak District. Meanwhile, the brown hare is a better competitor in lowlands. Outside the UK, mountain hares inhabit northern mountains and tundra across Europe and Asia. They are the favourite prey of golden eagles.

 (C) David Newland (shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 license)

 (C) Mark Hope (shared under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license)