SNOWSHOE HARE (Lepus americanus bairdii)
Very much like the white-tailed jack rabbit, except the ears are not over 3 inches in length, and the coloration is more buffy-gray in summer. Changes to a thick, pure white coat in winter with only the tips of the ears remaining black. Total length 17 inches.
The snowshoe rabbit has gained its name from the hair covering the long toes and large feet. These “snowshoes” enable the animals to travel over the lightest snow crusts without sinking out of sight. Its wonderful protective coloration both in summer and winter, combined with a bounding jump which can carry it up to thirty miles an hour, provide this hare with means of evading some of its numerous predators. It is fairly common in the subalpine forests and tundra country both in summer and winter. The snowshoe hare has also been called the varying hare because of the molting or changing of coats with each winter and summer season.
THE SHREWS (INSECTIVORES)
Shrews and moles both belong to the order of insectivores, so called because their diet consists principally of insects. No moles have been reported for the Park as yet. The nervous little shrew, smallest of all North American mammals, is distinctly mouse-like at first glance. Closer inspection, however, will reveal a very small, darting animal with long, pointed, quivering nose, tiny or hidden eyes and ears, a slender body, and a gray, velvet-like fur that brushes easily either way. Even the smallest shrews have razor-like teeth and vicious tempers, which give members of the mouse world great fear of these terrible little assassins. They will not hesitate to leap on fat mice twice their size and kill them with their tiny jaws. They live on the ground and are active during both day and night hours. Being difficult to observe, they are usually studied in the field by trapping techniques. Meadows, damp places, and rotted logs are favorite habitats. The kinds of shrews found in the Park are indicated below with their relative abundance. Complete identification may be made by reference to larger texts.
MASKED SHREW (Sorex cinereus cinereus)
Common in all life zones of the Park.
DUSKY SHREW (Sorex obscurus obscurus)
Common up to timberline in moist areas.