Cold Weather Animals

With the official arrival of winter last week, we thought it was a good time to talk about some animals that live (and thrive) in extreme cold weather conditions. So we searched through our archives and found some of our best posts for you; enjoy!

• Predators In The Snow (photo gallery)
• The Snowshoe Hare
• Arctic Foxes Survive Everyday Blizzards
• Lynx, The "Snowshoe" Cat
• The (Polar) Bear Necessities

A Snowy Delight

I'm hoping for a white Christmas this year, and I think my wish might come true! So, to get in the spirit, I decided to write about the Snowshoe Hare. The Snowshoe Hare lives in forests in northern regions. During the winter, its large feet help it hop atop the snow, and its snow-white coat helps it stay camouflaged. However, in the spring the Snowshoe Hare's coat turns a brownish color, as the snow begins to melt away.

Snowshoe Hare

Snowshoe hares live in forests and prefer thick brushy undergrowth. They are primarily a northen species that inhabits boreal forests all the way up to the shores of the Arctic Ocean. Hares are a little bigger than rabbits and have taller hind legs and longer ears. Snowshoe hares have especially large, furry feet that help them to move atop snow in the winter. Their snow-white winter coat turns brown when the snow melts each spring. Snowshoe hares are nimble and fast, which comes in handy when they are being preyed upon by lynx, fox, coyote, and even birds of prey.

To learn more about snowshoe hares, visit NationalGeographic.com.

- photo from National Geographic