Hare and changing fur color
Posted by Christine Sopczak on April 9, 2006
Q: Do hares or rabbits change their fur colour according to the season? Is the colour change affected by the snow or does the change occur for another reason?
Thank you
A: Yes, some do. Those species that change color seasonally are the Snowshoe Hare, White-tailed Jackrabbit (only in northern parts of range), Arctic Hare, and Alaskan Hare. The temperature is not what initiates these changes but changes in daylight length. In the fall, as days become shorter, the animals register this change and their fur coats respond by changing into white. In the spring, the reverse is true and they become brown or gray. Good question - thanks for asking.
John Wiessinger ( April 9, 2006)
Filed under: Mammals