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Mammal Tracks and Sign

Snowshoe Hare

 

TRACKS

 
Snowshoe Hares are similar to Eastern Cottontail Rabbits except they are bigger. And they're Hares instead of Rabbits. To the casual onlooker the differences are technical. The main difference in terms of tracking, is that Snowshoe Hare tracks are much bigger.
 


Photo by Alexis Burnett

Here is the track of a Snowshoe Hare who paused for a moment.

 
Another set of tracks.

The Snowshoe Hare in this photo was moving towards the top of the photo.

The two rear feet are ahead of the two front feet.

Although it is obvious that these are Snowshoe Hare tracks due to their size (although no size is indicated in this photo), Eastern Cottontail tracks are not as easy. They can be confused with Grey Squirrel tracks in the snow.
A sure way to tell them apart is illustrated in this photo. Rabbits (and Hares) will almost always place their two front feet offset from each other, as shown here. Squirrels, on the other hand, will almost always place them right beside each other.

 
The same Snowshoe Hare, showing the series of tracks it made as it moved away from the camera.
 

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