The Mountain Hare (Lepus timidus)

Recognition: brown in summer, white in winter. Long black-tipped ears.
Weight : 2.5 - 3.5 kg
Length : Up to 70 cm

Mountain hares, also known as blue hares and Arctic hares are native to Britain. They are found in America as well as in Asia. In Europe there are found in Scotland, Ireland and the Southern regions of Scandinavia.

Mountain hares are known to make burrows either in the snow or in the earth but also make forms. They rest during the day and feed at night on heather, grasses, bilberry, gorse, juniper, grasses, herbs shrubs and trees.

The young of the mountain hare are born fully-furred and open-eyed. Their predators include foxes, stoats, cats and hawks. They can run at speeds up to 80 km/hr and they have vision covering 360 degrees. Mountain Hares are smaller than brown hares, have shorter ears and shorter legs.