In central Russia, the hare and hare are widespread. In summer, both representatives of the hare order have a gray-brown coat color. In winter, the hare becomes much lighter, and the hare turns pure white (hence the nickname of the beast). Where do hares live? Belyak lives in the forest. This is a forest hare. Rusak can live in fields and steppes. So to the question of where the hares live, the answer is not entirely unambiguous.
Belyak: daily routine and nutrition
During the day, the hare usually sleeps where he lives. A hare in the forest only comes out at night to feed. In winter, it feeds mainly on the bark of various trees. The hare does this in a very original way, rising on its hind legs in order to reach the bark more gently, as if standing at attention. The hare gnaws on the branches of young aspen, birch, willow bark, willow and other deciduous trees. Very fond of young fruit plants.
In winter, the hare can quite easily move through deep snow, as it is on its feet(even between the fingers) he grows hair. And warm, and kept in the snow is much easier. The leg becomes wider, and the hare runs as if on skis. By the way, when a hare jumps, it brings its hind legs forward like a squirrel, leaving characteristic footprints in the snow.
In hiding
Lying is the name of the winter (and summer) lair where the hare lives in the forest from time to time. You can get to the hidden place in the footsteps of the hare. But, most likely, it will be very difficult to do this. Before lying down, the hare intensively confuses the tracks, winds and jumps from side to side (makes notes). And only after finally confusing everyone, the animal finally lies down in an oblong hole. In it, the hare hides from all kinds of enemies, and he has enough of them: wolves, foxes, owls, eagles, dogs, lynxes. Also - hunters and poachers of all ranks and stripes.
You can also hide from the piercing autumn and winter wind in the prone position. In a strong winter blizzard, a white hare can be covered with snow, as they say, “up to the very ears”. Above it is formed a vault of snow and ice crust. Then the hidden hare, coming out into the light, has to dig out of the cache. So the question of where the hares live can be answered as follows: some of the time they are lying down. There they hide from enemies and the wind.
Where do European hares live?
These are field and steppe animals (for the most part), unlike whites, which mainly live in the forest. During the day, hares almost always sleep, and at night they feed. They dig snow over winter crops and eat green sprouts. If the Rusak cannot for any reasonreason (deep snow, ice, frost) to get to winter crops, he resorts to vegetable gardens, where he eats the remaining stalks or unpicked carrots. It also approaches haystacks, eating dry grass. Willingly eats in gardens and the bark of fruit trees - young apple trees. Rusaks thus cause great harm to the national economy - fields, orchards and orchards. For this they are disliked by the villagers.
Where do hares live in winter and summer?
These animals live alone or in pairs. Unlike their rabbit brothers, hares almost never burrow. They build their nests in small, ready-made pits. The hare tribe is known for its fertility: the hare makes 3-4 litters a year (from March to September), each with 5-10 cubs. They are born with eyes and hair already open, quite independent, but some die from enemies in the very first months of their lives. The fact is that the mother, having fed, runs away from the kids in two or three days. All this time they sit, hiding in the grass. A few days later, the hare again comes running to feed them. Interestingly, another female who has found a hare can also do this.
What helps the hare?
Escaping from enemies, which the hare has plenty of, the animal can run up to 70 kilometers a day, making wide circles and winding through the forest or field. These tracks are sometimes difficult for a skilled hunter to unravel. So the hare saves its main defense - the ability to run fast. And the white hare comes in handy in winter and the corresponding color of the skin. Rusak, escaping from the chase, can sometimesstop, as if listening and trying to see the enemy. But in a hare, only hearing is well developed, and vision and smell are not very good. So, a hare can come close enough to a motionless person, which is what experienced hunters use.
Coy or burrow?
Lying, especially if the hare is not particularly disturbed, can be used by him repeatedly as a place for temporary shelter. But most often the hare is looking for new places. But in winter, in severe frost, he digs holes in the snow up to one and a half meters deep, in which he spends most of his time, going outside only in search of food or in case of danger.
Interestingly, the hare only compacts the snow without throwing it out. Hares living in the tundra dig holes up to eight meters long in winter, using them as permanent shelters. When danger arises, tundra hare do not leave their burrow, but hide inside and wait. And in the summer, the empty earthen passages of marmots and arctic foxes are used as shelters. Where do hares live? In burrows left by other animals. It is spacious and there is enough space for long-ears.
