The Rabbit and the Hare

The Rabbit and the Hare

This story is not like the well-known fable involving a race with a hare. There is no race in this story. If there was, the hare would easily win (and by more than just a “hair”!).

This is about the differences between rabbits and hares.

This is all about the eyes and the fur, as you will see.

Hares have young that are born as breathing beings (they are mammals). At birth baby hares have fur. Baby hares are also born with their eyes open.

Rabbits also have young that are born as breathing beings (they too are mammals). By contrast, at birth baby rabbits are naked and their eyes are closed.

There are some misnomers in how creatures in Nature are commonly identified. For example, Jack “rabbits” are actually hares.

Similarly, snowshoe “rabbits” are actually hares. Their proper name is “varying hare”, due to the fact that their fur colour changes twice during the year.
Snowshoe hares have brown fur in spring/summer/fall. Their fur changes to white in winter. In both cases their fur colour provides seasonal camouflage that helps them to avoid being spotted by predators.

The term “snowshoe” refers to the creature’s extra furry hind feet that help them stay on top of the snow, helping them to escape predators such as fox, wolf, and fisher.

Varying hares don’t have as much luck getting away from the Canada lynx, their main predator. The lynx also has large feet, adapted to deep snow conditions.

As will be seen, varying hares and the Canada lynx are closely linked for another reason. But that’s for another day.