Snowshoe Hare

January 22, 2016

From the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS):

Snowshoe hares have evolved to camouflage themselves by changing their fur color from brown in summer to white in winter, which allows them to blend in with snow cover and hide from other animals. When snow comes later or leaves earlier than normal, white hares stand out to predators like "light bulbs" against a dark backdrop. Researchers supported by the USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center and the Southeast Climate Science Center recently found that hares with “mismatched” fur color for the season and weather are 7 percent less likely to survive each week. With the shifting seasons and weather that accompany climate change, it is uncertain if hares will be able to evolve quickly enough to match new snow patterns. It’s not just a snowshoe hare problem, either – at least 13 other species are affected by potential camouflage mismatch, including white-tailed jackrabbits, weasels, and arctic foxes. Visithttp://bit.ly/1lvTsYm

Photo: Snowshoe hare experiencing camouflage mismatch in the spring at the Seeley Lake, MT, study site. Photo by L. Scott Mills, North Carolina State University