Hare — facts for kids
Lepus timidus
The hare sits perfectly still in the grass and hopes nobody sees it. Only when you come close does it dash away in zigzags. In winter the mountain hare turns white, so the snow becomes its hiding place.
Field notes
How big?
Like a big cushion with long legs
How heavy?
Like a full backpack
What does it eat?
Grass, herbs, buds and bark
When can you see it?
In the evening and at dusk
How big is it?
Hare is about 30 cm tall sitting, with the ears even higher.
Look for this
Paired prints in the snow, with two big hind feet ahead of the small front ones, and round droppings in the grass.
How it sounds
Almost nothing. If frightened it can scream loudly — it sounds almost like a child.
Fun to know
- A hare can run 70 km/h — faster than a car in town.
- Its eyes sit on the sides, so it can see almost all the way around itself.
- Baby hares are born with fur and open eyes.
Questions kids ask about the hare
Vad äter du?
Gräs och örter på sommaren, knoppar och bark när det är vinter.
Hur snabb är du?
Sjuttio kilometer i timmen! Och jag springer i sicksack så ingen hinner med.
Var sover du?
I en liten grop i gräset. Jag bygger inget bo — jag gömmer mig i det som redan finns.
Meet the hare for real
At places across Sundsvall, Sweden, the animals stand in their real spots. Come within ten metres and the hare comes alive in the phone and answers children's questions. The trail is in Swedish.