Known as the varying hare, the snowshoe hare changes color in the winter by developing a new outer coat of white fur. Triggered by changes in day length, the snowshoe hare gradually sheds its brown-gray coat and replaces it with a layer of longer white guard hairs.
These new hairs contain air chambers that increase insulation value and allow the coat to more effectively reflect light, giving it a brighter appearance that more closely matches snow. This adaptation not only functions as winter camouflage to evade predators, but also improves thermoregulation, helping the hare stay warm in the cold.
Interestingly, the ear tips of the snowshoe hare do not change color seasonally and remain black throughout the year.
