mountain hares

[diggleken]

Hello all,
out for a high level walk on the pennines, (near the peak district) today - saw a mountain hare, Lepus Timidus, just moving into winter coat it seems, a bit mottled - anyone know when does this normally happpen prior to full whiteness?
Is it a bit graded depending on how northerly/southerly they are? Interesting to have views from Peak to Scotland on first white coated viewings perhaps?
Attached pic from last year nearly at full white.

Ken

[Dogghound]

Their moult starts around mid october and can go on into early december, The female also moults earlier so its likely this is a female given the time of year although not definately. There is quite a variability between the Irish, Scottish, English and European races with a couple of differences in size moulting and colour the Scottish L.t. scoticus subspecies become more white in winter than the Irish L.t hibernicus for example. So they are variable depending on their distribution, however within a population you will always have variance. These English ones should become fully white if not 90+% of their body hair will be white.

Interestingly I went up the the pennines in the summer to study how they interact with brown hares and their distribution. There alot harder to see in the summer.

[diggleken]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Their moult starts around mid october and can go on into early december, The female also moults earlier so its likely this is a female given the time of year although not definately. There is quite a variability between the Irish, Scottish, English and European races with a couple of differences in size moulting and colour the Scottish L.t. scoticus subspecies become more white in winter than the Irish L.t hibernicus for example. So they are variable depending on their distribution, however within a population you will always have variance. These English ones should become fully white if not 90+% of their body hair will be white.

Interestingly I went up the the pennines in the summer to study how they interact with brown hares and their distribution. There alot harder to see in the summer.

Thanks for that info, most interesting - the hibernicus are generally going to be at a lower alitude average than the scoticus, so may underline the coat and moult variability with distribution.
They are certainly easier to spot when white - this is still in evidence even in april, when I have seen them boxing.
They also are most easily spotted when its a sunny day - they like to be near rocks as far as I can see, for shelter, but also end up sunbathing and are obvious then, staying quite immobile for long periods - I hope this helps you a little for when they are browner!
Cheers
Ken