Stand quietly at dawn near Logan Pass and you might witness something remarkable—a snowshoe hare in its brilliant white winter coat bounding across a snowy slope, or perhaps a white-tailed jackrabbit emerging from a sagebrush form on the eastern grasslands.
Glacier National Park hosts three distinct rabbit and hare species, each perfectly adapted to different elevations and habitats within this pristine wilderness.
From the color-changing snowshoe hare of the dense forests to the mountain cottontail of the lower valleys, these lagomorphs play essential roles in the park’s ecosystem while offering memorable wildlife encounters.
You’ll learn how to identify each species, where to find them throughout the park, and what makes their Glacier adaptations so extraordinary.
Snowshoe Hare
The snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) stands out as one of Glacier’s most remarkable mammals thanks to its dramatic seasonal color transformation. You’ll recognize this medium-sized hare by its distinctive features—large hind feet that function like natural snowshoes, relatively short ears compared to jackrabbits, and those telltale black-tipped ears that remain dark even when the rest of the coat turns white. Adults typically measure 13 to 18 inches in length and weigh between 2 to 4 pounds, making them substantially smaller than the park’s white-tailed jackrabbits.
Key Insight: The snowshoe hare’s color change is triggered by seasonal light cycles rather than actual snowfall, which means you might occasionally spot mismatched hares with white coats against brown landscapes during warm autumns.
This species undergoes two complete molts annually, transforming from rich brown summer pelage to pure winter white over a five to six-week period each fall. The transition works in reverse each spring. This evolutionary adaptation helps snowshoe hares avoid detection by numerous predators including Canada lynx, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, and various birds of prey. The white winter coat consists of three distinct layers—white outer fur, gray middle layer, and brown closest to the skin—providing both camouflage and insulation against Glacier’s harsh winters.
Snowshoe hares inhabit the park’s coniferous forests, particularly favoring dense stands of spruce, fir, and lodgepole pine with thick understory vegetation. You’ll find them most commonly on the park’s western side in areas like McDonald Creek valley and the forested zones around Lake McDonald. They thrive in second-growth forests and mixed woodland habitats where dense cover provides protection from predators. These hares rarely venture far into open meadows, preferring to stay within quick reach of protective vegetation.
Their diet shifts seasonally to match available resources. During spring and summer months, snowshoe hares feast on fresh grasses, forbs, clover, and new growth on shrubs and trees. As winter approaches and green vegetation disappears beneath snow, they transition to browsing on twigs, buds, and bark from deciduous trees and evergreens. Research from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks indicates snowshoe hares are remarkably prolific, capable of producing up to three litters of about eight young each year in Montana populations.
| Season | Coat Color | Primary Diet | Activity Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Brown to white transition | Fresh grasses, new growth | Dawn and dusk peaks |
| Summer | Rich brown with rusty tones | Grasses, forbs, clover | Nocturnal with crepuscular activity |
| Fall | White to brown transition | Mixed vegetation, browse | Increasing nighttime activity |
| Winter | Pure white (black ear tips) | Twigs, buds, bark | Primarily nocturnal |
You’ll have your best chances of spotting snowshoe hares during early morning or evening hours when they emerge from daytime resting spots to forage. Unlike rabbits, hares are born fully furred with eyes open and can hop within hours of birth—an adaptation that suits predator-rich forest environments. Watch for their distinctive bounding gait, which showcases those oversized hind feet that give the species its common name.
Pro Tip: Look for distinctive trails and runways through snow or vegetation—snowshoe hares create well-worn paths between feeding areas and resting spots that persist throughout winter.
The snowshoe hare population experiences dramatic cyclical fluctuations approximately once per decade, with numbers sometimes crashing due to disease, predation pressure, or environmental factors. Climate change poses an increasing threat to these animals, as warming temperatures lead to more snowless days during periods when hares remain in white coats. This color mismatch makes them highly visible to predators and contributes to declining populations in some regions. Biologists believe certain areas are already experiencing climate-related decreases in snowshoe hare numbers.
White-Tailed Jackrabbit
The white-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii) ranks among the world’s largest hare species and certainly represents Glacier’s most impressive lagomorph. You’ll immediately notice their remarkable size—adults stretch 22 to 26 inches from nose to stubby tail and can weigh between 6 to 10 pounds, nearly twice the mass of snowshoe hares. Their most striking features include enormous ears measuring 5 to 6 inches that can detect sounds from remarkable distances, powerful muscular hind legs built for explosive speed, and a distinctive white tail that remains pale year-round.
This high-country specialist prefers relatively open terrain with scattered brush, particularly the grasslands and shrublands on Glacier’s eastern side. You’ll most likely encounter white-tailed jackrabbits in areas like the prairie zones near East Glacier, the open slopes accessible from Many Glacier Road, and the grassland habitats around St. Mary. They range throughout Montana except the far northwest corner, with populations appearing stable based on available research, though information on these hares remains somewhat limited.
Important Note: White-tailed jackrabbits are hares, not true rabbits, despite their common name. They’re born fully developed with fur and open eyes, while true rabbits are born helpless in nests.
Like snowshoe hares, white-tailed jackrabbits undergo dramatic seasonal color changes, though this adaptation primarily occurs in northern populations. During warmer months, their coat displays yellowish-gray to grayish-brown tones that blend perfectly with prairie grasses and sagebrush. As winter approaches, they gradually molt into brilliant white pelage, with only the black ear tips remaining dark. This transformation provides excellent camouflage against snow while the dense white fur offers superior insulation during brutal Rocky Mountain winters.
According to Montana wildlife biologists, white-tailed jackrabbits are herbivores that adjust their diet seasonally. Spring and summer months bring abundant grasses and flowering plants, which comprise the bulk of their diet during growing seasons. As vegetation dies back in fall and winter, they shift to consuming buds, twigs, and bark of woody shrubs. They also feed on agricultural crops like alfalfa when available, occasionally bringing them into conflict with farmers near park boundaries.
These hares are strictly nocturnal, spending daylight hours resting in shallow depressions called “forms” beneath grass clumps or shrubs. They hide motionless with ears flat against their backs, relying on camouflage to avoid detection. As evening light fades, white-tailed jackrabbits emerge to forage, hopping across open areas or following trails created by other jackrabbits through vegetation. Activity continues throughout the night, particularly when moonlight illuminates the landscape. They return to resting forms by dawn to wait out the day.
When threatened, white-tailed jackrabbits employ impressive escape strategies. Their powerful legs propel them to speeds exceeding 35 to 40 miles per hour in short bursts, with the ability to leap 20 feet in a single bound. They zigzag while running, making themselves difficult targets for pursuing coyotes, foxes, and other predators. This combination of speed, agility, and explosive acceleration makes them among the fastest mammals in Glacier National Park.
The breeding season extends from late February through July, with timing varying based on elevation and local conditions. Several males often compete aggressively for females, charging at each other, leaping, and jostling for dominance. After a gestation period of approximately 42 days, females give birth to litters averaging four to five young called leverets. The precocial babies are born fully furred with eyes open and begin moving around almost immediately—a stark contrast to the helpless newborn kits of true rabbits.
Common Mistake: Assuming all white animals in winter are snowshoe hares—white-tailed jackrabbits are significantly larger and have much longer ears and legs, making them easily distinguishable once you know what to look for.
White-tailed jackrabbits face conservation challenges in some regions, though they remain relatively stable in Montana. In Wyoming parks like Grand Teton and Yellowstone, populations have declined for unclear reasons. Climate change may play a role, as shifts in snowpack patterns and vegetation communities affect their habitat quality. However, in Glacier’s diverse ecosystems, these impressive hares continue to maintain viable populations across suitable grassland and shrubland habitats.
Mountain Cottontail
The mountain cottontail (Sylvilagus nuttallii) represents Glacier’s only true rabbit species—a fact that distinguishes it from the park’s two hare species both biologically and behaviorally. You’ll identify mountain cottontails by their compact size, proportionally shorter ears that measure less than head length, and that characteristic fluffy white tail that gives cottontails their common name. Adults measure 12 to 15 inches in length and weigh between 1.5 to 3 pounds, making them noticeably smaller than either hare species.
These rabbits display grayish-brown coats year-round, providing excellent camouflage against rocky terrain, sagebrush, and mixed vegetation. Unlike Glacier’s hares, mountain cottontails never undergo seasonal color changes—their pelage remains relatively consistent throughout the year with only minor variations in tone. Their compact build, rounded body shape, and short legs give them a distinctly different appearance from the long-legged, lean-bodied hares.
Mountain cottontails inhabit lower to mid-elevation zones within Glacier, particularly on the park’s eastern side where suitable habitat exists. You’ll find them in areas with open woodlands, sagebrush communities, rocky slopes, and grasslands with scattered brush. They require habitat that provides both open foraging areas and nearby protective cover—typically found in ecotonal zones where different habitat types meet. Good viewing locations include the lower elevations near park boundaries and foothill areas with mixed vegetation.
These rabbits create shallow depressions called “forms” beneath shrubs, in tall grass, or beside rocks where they rest during daylight hours. Unlike hares, which are born in forms, mountain cottontails occasionally use abandoned burrows created by other mammals for shelter and nesting, though they don’t dig their own extensive tunnel systems. They’re most active during crepuscular hours—the low-light periods around dawn and dusk—though they may also forage on moonlit nights.
Mountain cottontails feed primarily on grasses and forbs during spring and summer, taking advantage of abundant green vegetation. Their diet shifts toward woody browse during colder months, consuming tender bark from shrubs, dried grasses, and whatever vegetation remains accessible. Like all lagomorphs, they practice coprophagy—re-ingesting soft fecal pellets to extract maximum nutritional value from their plant-based diet. This adaptation allows them to retain valuable vitamins and minerals produced during the digestive process.
The breeding season typically runs from spring through late summer, with females potentially producing multiple litters of three to eight young called kits. Unlike hare leverets, cottontail kits are born helpless—blind, furless, and completely dependent on maternal care. Females create shallow nests lined with grass and fur pulled from their own bodies, carefully concealing these nurseries beneath dense vegetation. The altricial babies remain in nests for their first weeks, with mothers returning periodically to nurse them.
Mountain cottontails face predation from numerous species including coyotes, foxes, bobcats, badgers, weasels, and various raptors. Their primary defense strategy involves freezing motionless when threats appear, relying on camouflage coloration to avoid detection. If discovered, they flee in rapid, erratic patterns toward protective cover—a different escape strategy than the sustained high-speed runs employed by jackrabbits. Their smaller size and preference for areas with dense cover suit this approach to predator avoidance.
According to research from wildlife biologists, mountain cottontail populations remain relatively stable across their range, though localized fluctuations occur due to predation pressure, disease, and habitat quality. In Glacier National Park, suitable habitat for this species exists primarily in lower-elevation zones where grasslands and shrublands provide the open-yet-protected environments these rabbits require. Climate change and habitat modifications may affect their distribution over time, particularly as vegetation communities shift in response to changing temperature and precipitation patterns.
Glacier National Park’s three rabbit species showcase remarkable adaptations to the northern Rocky Mountain environment, from the snowshoe hare’s color-changing camouflage in dense forests to the white-tailed jackrabbit’s impressive speed across open grasslands and the mountain cottontail’s preference for rocky foothill habitats.
Each species occupies distinct ecological niches, minimizing competition while maximizing survival in this pristine wilderness. When you explore Glacier’s trails and valleys, remember that dawn and dusk offer your best viewing opportunities.
Watch for movement along forest edges, scan grassland margins for jackrabbits, and check rocky slopes for cottontails. These lagomorphs form essential links in Glacier’s food web while providing wildlife watchers with engaging encounters throughout the park’s elevation gradient.
