How to identify it
Large northern hare with short ears and a winter-white coat; summer animals retain white feet and tail. [1]
Species it is confused with
Check these before deciding what you are looking at. If you are not certain what it is, do not shoot.
- Snowshoe hare · Lepus americanus
Field notes
- Identification Do not identify Arctic hare from colour alone. Compare structure, size, range and the listed similar species before making a field decision.[1]
Where it lives
Treeless Arctic tundra and rocky polar landscapes. [1]
How it behaves
When alarmed stands and hops on its hind legs, leaving tracks that look made by a three-legged animal; runs up to 64 km/h. [2]
Where it is listed for legal take
These authorities list this species for legal take in their own regulations.
Where legal take is listed
- Manitoba — hunting · Manitoba Hunting Guide 2026
- Newfoundland and Labrador — hunting, trapping · 2026-27 Hunting and Trapping Guide
- Northwest Territories — hunting · NWT Summary of Hunting and Trapping Regulations, July 1 2022 - June 30 2023
- Nunavut — hunting · Summary of the Nunavut Hunting Regulations 2021-2022
- Québec — hunting, trapping · Périodes de chasse au petit gibier 2026-2028
Being listed is not an open season. Seasons, zones, licences, methods and limits decide whether this animal may be taken on a given day and place — check Hunt or the authority before you go. Listings read 2026-09-30.
Where it is found
Arctic Canada and Greenland
Sources
Every claim above is attributed to one of these published sources.
- BIOLOGICALLièvre arctique
Gouvernement du Québec · reviewed 2026-09-20
Gouvernement du Québec
- BIOLOGICALLepus arcticus (Arctic hare)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology · reviewed 2026-09-30
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology