The Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus) is a remarkable mammal inhabiting Earth’s frigid northern regions. These hares thrive across the Arctic tundra, a challenging environment characterized by extreme cold and limited resources. As an herbivore, their survival hinges on locating and consuming plant matter, with vegetation availability fluctuating dramatically throughout the year. Their diet is a testament to specialized adaptations for enduring one of the planet’s harshest climates.
Main Food Sources
Arctic hares are primarily folivores, meaning their diet largely consists of plant foliage. Their most significant food source, constituting up to 95% of their diet year-round, is the arctic willow (Salix arctica). Beyond this staple, they consume a variety of other low-growing tundra plants, including:
- Mosses
- Lichens
- Arctic poppies
- Saxifrage
- Crowberry
- Dwarf willow
- Sedges
- Various grasses
Hares also eat buds, berries, leaves, roots, and bark when available. While overwhelmingly herbivorous, Arctic hares occasionally scavenge on animal remains during extreme food scarcity. This opportunistic behavior might include consuming fish remains or the stomach contents of dead caribou, providing essential nutrients.
Adapting to Seasonal Availability
The Arctic hare’s diet undergoes significant changes to match the extreme seasonal shifts in its environment. During the brief Arctic summer, when diverse vegetation flourishes, their diet becomes more varied. Summer foraging includes nutritionally rich willow leaves and young stems, along with legumes, which can constitute up to 70% of their diet. They also seek out plants such as Solidago virgaurea, Carex spp., and Cornus suecica.
As the long, harsh winter descends, food scarcity becomes a major challenge. Arctic hares adapt by relying heavily on woody plants, including the stems, bark, and roots of arctic willow. Birch, despite its lower nutritional value, becomes a predominant component of their winter diet, often making up 46-62% of what they consume, supplemented by juniper when accessible.
They possess a keen sense of smell and strong claws, enabling them to detect and dig through snow to unearth buried vegetation. To maximize nutrient extraction from their fibrous diet, Arctic hares practice coprophagy, re-ingesting their own feces to absorb additional nutrients. They also consume snow to meet their hydration needs in the frozen landscape.