### Identification The Alaskan Hare (*Lepus othus*) is the undisputed heavyweight champion of the North American lagomorphs. Growing up to 28 inches long and weighing nearly 12 pounds, it dwarfs the more common Snowshoe Hare. In summer, look for a "grizzled" coat of dusky brown or tawny gray; however, by winter, they undergo a spectacular molt into a coat of blinding, pure white. The most reliable field marks are their ears: they are shorter than those of desert hares (an adaptation to prevent frostbite) and are always tipped with a distinct smudge of black fur, regardless of the season. Unlike the Snowshoe Hare, which has relatively small hind feet, *L. othus* possesses massive, heavily furred "snowshoe" paws that allow it to float atop deep drifts.
### Habitat & Range This is a specialist of the windswept fringe. You will find them exclusively in Western and Northern Alaska, ranging from the rocky slopes of the Seward Peninsula down to the scrubby tundra of the Alaska Peninsula. They shun the deep, sheltered forests preferred by other rabbits, opting instead for open, treeless tundra, coastal lowlands, and alpine meadows where they can use their keen eyesight to spot predators from a distance.
### Behaviour Often called the "Ghost of the Tundra," this hare is primarily crepuscular, most active during the violet hours of dawn and dusk. While generally solitary, you might witness dramatic "boxing matches" during the spring breeding season as males compete for dominance. When startled, they don't just bolt; they often stand bolt upright on their hind legs to survey the danger before exploding into a zig-zagging sprint that can reach speeds of 40 mph.
### Diet In the lean months of the Arctic winter, these hares are master foragers. They use their powerful claws to scrape through packed snow to reach dwarf willow, birch, and various mosses. They are particularly fond of the nutrient-rich bark and woody shoots of willow shrubs, which they clip at a clean 45-degree angle—a tell-tale sign for any tracker.
### Fascinating Fact Unlike many mammals that give birth to helpless, blind young, Alaskan Hare "leverets" are born fully furred, with their eyes wide open, and are capable of hopping and hiding within just a few hours of birth! This "hit the ground running" strategy is essential for survival in a landscape prowled by Arctic foxes and Gyrfalcons.