‘Hare today, gone tomorrow’

I put quotations around the title because I cannot (and will not) take credit for that play on words. That’s all John Holyoke, BDN Outdoors editor, fly fisherman, aspiring hunter, etc. While viewing my recent snowshoe hare photos, he came up with that title, and I can’t decide if it’s terribly clever or cleverly terrible. Whatever — it caught your attention.

On a recent wildlife photography expedition, my friend Sharon and I came across a snowshoe hare that was either quite bold or quite blind. It hopped out of the forest and came right up to me, within arms reach. It came so close that I could no longer take photos with my 300-mm lens.

Here are the photos, as well as some tidbits about snowshoe hares:

– It takes about 10 weeks for the snowshoe hare’s white winter coat to completely change to brown each spring. – National Geographic

-Snowshoe hares have large, furry feet that help them move atop snow. – National Geographic

-Snowshoe hares usually make their home in dense coniferous forests. – National Wildlife Foundation

– Snowshoe hares are typically larger than rabbits and other hares, with longer ears and bigger feet, but an important identification trick is to look at the ears. The tips of a snowshoe hare’s ears are always black, no matter the season. – National Wildlife Foundation

– Snowshoe hares are nocturnal, so look for them at dawn and dusk. – National Wildlife Foundation (The one featured in the photos above came out at dusk. I brightened the photos afterward.)

 

Aislinn Sarnacki

About Aislinn Sarnacki

Aislinn is a Bangor Daily News reporter for the Outdoors pages, focusing on outdoor recreation and Maine wildlife. Visit her main blog at actoutwithaislinn.bangordailynews.com.