What to feed a hare in winter?
What to feed bunnies? At this point you will understand that tree bark is far from a delicacy for these “cowards.” The brown hare is not a fan of trees at all. In winter, it greedily eats root vegetables, Jerusalem artichokes, cabbage, hay, leaves and rags, as well as the famous “brooms” made from thin birch twigs.
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Features of hares
Zoology distinguishes several species and subspecies of these animals. The planet is home to the Bushman hare, the bristly hare, the African hare, the climbing hare (or the Japanese arboreal hare, which is on the verge of extinction), the anuran and black-tailed hare, and more than a dozen species. Let's not forget, of course, our Russian bunnies - hare and hare.
Species differ in color, habitat, gastronomic habits, even blood composition. Common to all lagomorphs:
- the structure of the jaw, which allows for fractional grinding of solid plant foods (branches, tree bark);
- teeth wear down and grow throughout life;
- acute hearing and vision, especially well-developed sense of smell;
- the presence of special odorous glands for detection by relatives;
- excellent adaptability to running (the maximum speed of a hare can reach 60 km/h);
- terrestrial animals, do not climb and swim well;
- high fertility (the female produces up to 4 litters of 5-10 babies each year).
Coyote.
The American wolf reaches speeds of up to 65 km/h. The coyote is omnivorous and extremely unpretentious in food. However, 90% of its diet consists of animal food: hares, rabbits, prairie dogs, marmots and ground squirrels (in Canada), small rodents. Attacks raccoons, ferrets, opossums and beavers; eats birds (pheasants), insects. Swims well and catches aquatic life - fish, frogs and newts. It rarely attacks domestic sheep, goats, wild deer and pronghorn. At the end of summer and autumn, it happily eats berries, fruits and groundnuts. In the northern regions in winter it switches to feeding on carrion; follows herds of large ungulates, eating the dead and cutting off weakened animals. Doesn't bother people; in the suburbs it sometimes rummages through the trash.
Hunting
Hare hunting is popular in our country. This animal is an object of fur trade and sport hunting. Large quantities of these animals are hunted for their fur and tasty, nutritious meat.
Hunting begins in October before snowfall and lasts throughout the winter. There are many ways of hunting: by tracking, in blinds, in powder, with dogs and “in the wild”.
The scythe has many enemies in nature besides hunters. It is hunted by birds of prey, wolves, lynxes, coyotes and foxes. High fertility helps these animals maintain their numbers.
How scientists studied the maximum speed of a hare
Zoologists, studying the life of animals, pay great attention to their habits, behavior in groups and reactions to danger. The main methods of such study are observation, ambushes, photography, and video filming. Animals are also caught and equipped with special sensors. They record movement, speed, even the body’s physiological reactions to stress and danger.
It was with the help of such a sensor that the maximum speed of the hare was recorded. It is very difficult to take a photo of a hare running as fast as he can from danger. However, with the help of the latest cameras that record time and shoot 10 frames per second, it was possible to record the hare's speed record - 75 km/h.
In the animal world there are real sprinters who can develop great speed when necessary. The hare and the fox are worthy rivals, but one of them can run faster than the other. Zoologists know exactly who will win the sprint race.
Nutrition
The diet of the oblique is very varied. What a hare eats depends on the season, weather conditions and habitat.
In summer
In summer, this herbivorous animal eats more than 500 species of plants, preferring their green parts. Also loves to eat melons, vegetables and fruits. Animals often get out into the fields and raid vegetable gardens and orchards. In autumn, their diet includes more and more solid food. Withered grass, roots and branches of bushes become their main food.
in winter
What do hares eat in winter, when there is no greenery?
The thicker the layer of snow, the harder it is for the long-eared animal to obtain food. High snow levels can hide almost everything that hares eat in winter. Animals escape from hunger by moving closer to populated areas. They are helped out in harsh winters by haystacks, frozen berries on bushes, and fallen fruits that the animals dig out from under the snow.
Tree bark makes up the majority of the diet during the cold season. Usually the scythe selects soft trees: aspen, birch, willow and others.
in spring
In spring, the diet becomes significantly more varied due to buds, young shoots and fresh grass. To compensate for the nutritional deficiency, the long-eared eats pebbles, soil and even animal bones.
Who is faster
In the absence of the need to move at maximum speeds, the hare and the fox demonstrate approximately the same performance. If we compare the maximum capabilities of animals, then the hare has an undeniable advantage. His speed of movement in case of danger significantly exceeds the capabilities of the fastest fox.
When hunting a hare, the fox prefers to lie in wait for it or exhaust it with a long and difficult run.
So, both the hare and the fox are real sprinters. The first place is occupied by the hare, which can, if necessary, develop significant speed.
Hares are common on all continents, with the exception of Antarctica and Australia. Unlike rabbits, they do not dig holes for themselves, but make nests in holes.
The average size of the most common hare, the hare, is 65 cm at the withers, and the weight reaches 6-7 kg. The lifespan of animals in captivity is 5-7 years. Hares have relatively high speed as it is their survival strategy. The peak running speed of the brown hare is 70 km/h (19.5 m/s). The average running speed of hares is 50 km/h.
- Author: Maria Sukhorukikh
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-Rabbits are very quiet animals, but they are by no means mute. They mutter, hiss, squeak, and the male makes a short but quite loud sound immediately after the act of mating. In this case, he usually immediately falls on his side and remains in this state for some time without moving. - if they were given the opportunity to reproduce as freely as possible, then after ninety years the number of rabbits would be equal to the number of square meters on our planet - there is information that the Aztecs measured the degree of intoxication on a scale from 1 to 400 rabbits. One day, the Aztec Mayahual noticed that a rabbit, having eaten agaves, was running around the field in a completely inadequate state. So she discovered the alcoholic potential of this cactus, for which the gods made Mayahual a goddess - the personification of agave. According to legend, she gave birth to Senzon Totochin - 400 rabbits who became the patrons of intoxication. It is still customary in Mexico to throw a little drink on the floor before drinking pulque as a sacrifice to rabbits. -In fairy tales, the rabbit usually appears as a cunning and resourceful hero, and the hare as the embodiment of timidity and weakness. - in one of the myths of the North American Indians, a rabbit, like Prometheus, stole fire from the “fire people” and gave it to people. - female rabbits have more embryos than they have baby rabbits. That is, some embryos simply dissolve. This happens, as scientists say, due to stress and protects against excessive reproduction of the biological species. -According to Japanese mythology, rabbits live on the moon, where they make mochi, a popular rice snack.
Fleet-footed animals
All hares are excellent sprinters. The amazing ability to run so fast in these small animals is developed due to the special development of the musculoskeletal system. The hind legs are long and muscular, which allows them to make huge jumps of 3-4 meters in length. The hind legs are also much longer than the front legs. This feature makes it possible to immediately develop enormous speed from a standstill. The maximum speed of the hare reaches 50 km/h already in the 5th second (!) of running.
Seventh place: Greyhound
The Greyhound is the fastest dog in the world. This slender dog can reach speeds of more than 80 kph, and some individuals have set records of more than 85 km/h. This is one of the oldest dog breeds and was bred specifically for sports. Male greyhounds weigh from twenty-five to forty kilograms. The thin constitution and long strong legs allow the Greyhound to achieve such extraordinary speed. Despite such achievements, dogs of this breed have an affectionate and flexible character.
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Fox capabilities
The fox is a mammal from the canine family. Its sprinting abilities are due to its long hind legs and small stomach. The common or red fox can move at a maximum speed of 50 km/h.
The tail helps the fox maintain balance while running.
There is an individual with higher indicators - this is the gray fox. It is inferior to the previous species in size and is currently found in nature much less frequently due to the high popularity of its fur. The maximum speed that the animal can reach is 67 km/h.
Reproduction
The weather conditions directly determine when the hares begin mating. In warm winters, the rut can begin in January, and after frosty winters - in early March.
During the mating season, these animals communicate by tapping a certain rhythm on the ground with their front paws. Males compete for the attention of females, engaging in spectacular fights.
Young individuals are ready for reproduction at the age of one year. Most species produce offspring several to five times a year, with an average of 2-5 cubs per litter. Despite the fact that the rabbits are born developed and sighted, for the first days they practically do not move, hiding in a hole.
The female leaves the brood almost immediately after giving birth and only occasionally returns to feed the cubs. Since females have offspring at the same time, any hare that comes across hungry cubs will definitely feed them. This behavior is easy to explain. Baby hares have no smell, unlike adults, and the less often the female is near them, the less chance the cubs have of becoming prey to a predator.
How fast does a hare run?
These small animals have a specially designed musculoskeletal system that allows them to cover long distances in a short time. Hares have long and muscular hind legs, thanks to which they jump 3–4 meters in length. The forelimbs are much shorter. This makes it possible to develop significant speed from a standstill. A big advantage is the very structure of the paws - they are narrow and long, which provides reliable grip on the ground and effective pushes during jumping.
Varieties
There are four common species in Russia: the Manchurian hare, the sandstone hare, the white hare and the brown hare. Let's look at them in more detail.
Manchurian
This species has much in common with the wild rabbit, but it is still difficult to confuse them, since the Manchurian hare looks somewhat different.
This is a small animal no more than 55 cm long and weighing up to 2.5 kg. The length of the ears is about 8 cm. The fur is hard and thick, brownish-ochre in color. The belly and sides are lighter than the body; there are several dark stripes on the back.
The habitat of this species is the Far East, the Korean Peninsula and Northeast China. In cold weather, this species experiences seasonal migration over short distances, during which animals move to places where there is less snow.
In nature, the species is not very widespread and has no commercial significance.
Sandstone
This species is also called tolai or talai. Compared to the Russians, it is quite small. Length 40-55 cm, weight up to 2.5 kg. But the tail and ears are longer: the length of the tail reaches 11.5 cm, the ears - up to 12 cm. Narrow paws are not adapted to move on snow. In summer, this species has grayish-buff fur, white on the throat and belly, and always remains dark on the rest of the body. The molting period largely depends on the habitat and weather conditions.
Tolai chooses flat areas, deserts and semi-deserts for life, but sometimes climbs high into the mountains. In Central Asia it can be found at an altitude of 3000 m above sea level. Often this hare lives in a hole abandoned by another animal; it rarely digs holes itself.
Tolai leads a sedentary life and migrates only in case of severe deterioration in weather conditions or when there is an acute lack of food.
This species reproduces less frequently than others - 1-2 times a year, but since it is not hunted often, a decrease in numbers is not observed.
Tolay is widespread in Central Asia. It is also found in Transbaikalia, Mongolia, Southern Siberia and some provinces of China. In Russia, the tolai lives in Altai, the Astrakhan region, Buryatia and the Chui steppe.
Belyak
Description of the hare: this is a fairly large representative of the hare family. How much does a hare weigh? The average weight of a white hare is 2-3 kg, and can reach up to 4.5 kg. Body length is from 45 to 70 cm, ears – 8-10 cm, tail – 5-10 cm. This species has wide paws. Thanks to its feet covered with thick hair, the hare moves easily even on loose snow in winter. The color depends on the time of year. In summer, the skin is gray - dark or with a reddish tint, with brown spots. The head is darker than the body, the belly is white. In winter, the white hare's skin becomes pure white. She sheds twice a year, in autumn and spring.
Where does the white hare live? In Russia, the white hare inhabits most of the territory from western Transbaikalia and the upper Don to the tundra. Large populations of this species also live in China, Japan, Mongolia, South America and Northern Europe.
For life, they choose small forests located near water bodies, farmland and open spaces, places rich in herbaceous plants and berries. They lead a sedentary lifestyle, occupying an area of 3 to 30 hectares, migrating only in case of severe bad weather and lack of food supply. Long-distance and mass migrations of the hare are observed only in the tundra zone, where the snow cover in winter is so high that the hare’s food (low-growing plants) becomes inaccessible.
They breed 2-3 times a year, and there are up to 11 hares in a litter. The lifespan of a hare in the wild is from 7 to 17 years.
Hare
The brown hare is larger than the hare. With a body length of 57-68 cm, it weighs from 4 to 7 kg. The length of the ears is 9-14 cm, the tail of the hare is 7-14 cm. The hare has longer and narrower paws than the hare.
This hare is gray in summer with an ocher, brownish or reddish tint. In winter, the gray hare living in the middle zone practically does not change its color, only becoming a little lighter. Animals inhabiting the northern regions become almost white, leaving only a dark stripe on the back.
Where does the brown hare live? In Russia, Russians inhabit the entire European part, the region of the Ural Mountains, in Southern Siberia, the Khabarovsk Territory and territories near Kazakhstan, in Transcaucasia in the Caucasus and Crimea.
Brown hare populations also inhabit Europe, the USA, Canada, Asia Minor and Asia Minor.
What does the hare eat? Since it is a herbivore, its diet consists of green parts of plants: clover, dandelion, mouse peas, yarrow, and cereals.
The brown hare is a steppe hare; it chooses open spaces to live; it rarely lives in forest areas and in the mountains. The animals lead a sedentary life, occupying an area of 30 to 50 hectares. Seasonal migrations occur only among Russians living in mountainous areas. The brown hare descends from the mountains in winter, and climbs back to higher ground in summer.
They reproduce depending on the habitat and weather conditions, from 1 to 5 times a year. There are 1 to 9 hares in a litter. How many years does a hare live? The average life expectancy of a hare is 6-7 years.
