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Mountain hares in danger: disruption caused by winter sports and climate change!
Discover the challenges facing the endangered mountain hare in the Alps: habitat, adaptations and climate change.
Mountain hares in danger: disruption caused by winter sports and climate change!
Perfectly camouflaged in thick, snow-white fur, the mountain hare (Lepus timidus) could hardly be better protected. But in mild winters it becomes a target for predators, as biologist Corina Lang from the Innsbruck Alpine Zoo reports. Their knowledge is based on years of observation: "The change of fur is what defines the mountain hare. When it's in its whites, it can disappear wonderfully, but a lack of snow turns it into easy prey." Especially in places with a lot of human activity, such as ski resorts, the hare has to live in an extremely resource-efficient manner. Interference caused by winter sports enthusiasts can force them to use up a lot of energy, which can have fatal consequences for them in the winter.
The Arctic hare's living situation is made even more difficult by climate change and its conflicting relatives. In mild winters, European hares (Lepus europaeus) migrate to mountainous regions and interbreed with mountain hares, resulting in the creation of hybrids. This development could ultimately endanger the survival of the original species. In the Alps, the mountain hare is now considered an endangered species, but figures about the remaining population are still unclear. In South Tyrol and Germany, the mountain hare was even named Animal of the Year 2025, underlining its importance and the need for protection.
Winter challenges and adaptations
It is not only in the Alpine region that the mountain hare develops its adaptability. The winter forest, as it is in Forest stories is described, offers the furry animal protection and food. These animal inhabitants are masters of adaptation: their thick fur, which changes depending on the season, protects them from extreme temperatures. They also find everything from buds to bark in the forests, which is crucial for their survival. They cleverly use the cover of the forest to escape predators and optimize their way of life.