Early bird skier has hare-raising encounter at Mount Spokane

WILDLIFE WATCHING — Being first out on the Mount Spokane cross-country skiing trails before sunrise paid off this morning. After catching my attention with tracks it had made during the night, I had a pleasant undisturbed few moments with a snowshoe hare .

A very cool critter.

What is the difference between a hare and a rabbit ? I’m glad you asked:

Differences in the physical features of hares and rabbits include:

• Hares are generally larger and faster than rabbits.
• Hares have longer ears and larger feet than rabbits.
• Hares have black markings on their fur .
• Rabbits are altricial i.e. having young that are born blind and hairless. In contrast, hares are generally born with hair and are able to see ( precocial ). Young hares are therefore able to fend for themselves very quickly after birth.
• A young hare is called a leveret and a young rabbit is called a kitten, kit, or, least correct but very commonly, a bunny .
• Hares have very long and strong hind legs, more so than rabbits.
• Rabbits’ brown summer fur is replaced with fur that is more grey. Hares, especially those living in cold, snowy regions, turn white in the winter.
• Hunters say that hare has a much stronger, gamier flavor than rabbit (which actually does taste like a milder version of chicken).

Similarities:

• Rabbits and hares both molt and then grow new hair. This happens in both the spring and in the fall.
• Both rabbits and hares have short tails.