About
Name: Arctic Hare, Polar Rabbit (Lepus arcticus)
Length: 40-70 cm (excluding the tail)
Weight: 2.5-5.5 kg
Location: Arctic
Conservation status: Least Concern
Diet: Leaves, woody plants, willow, lichens, mosses, blooms, grasses, roots, seaweed
Appearance: White, with some brown depending on location and season
How do Arctic Hares forage?
Arctic Hares dig through winter snow to find woody plants, lichens, and mosses. In warmer seasons, they access tree bark, roots, berries, leaves, and buds more easily.
Are Arctic Hares social?
Arctic Hares usually live alone but may group together by the dozens or even hundreds for warmth.
How fast can Arctic Hares move?
Arctic Hares can run up to 60 km per hour.
What are Arctic Hare mating rituals like?
During mating season, Arctic Hares disperse and pair up. Males may visit multiple females. The season, often chaotic, is called "March Madness" or "Midnight Madness" in the far north. Females can have up to 8 leverets in spring or early summer. The young mature quickly, becoming adults by September and ready to mate the next season.
How long do Arctic Hares live?
Arctic Hares live an average of 3 to 5 years in the wild.
How many Arctic Hares are there today?
No scientific count or estimate exists for the Arctic Hare population.
Do Arctic Hares have any natural predators?
Predators include Arctic Foxes, Red Foxes, Grey Wolves, Canadian Lynx, Ermines, Rough-legged Hawks, Peregrine Falcons, Gyrfalcons, and Snowy Owls.
7 Awesome Arctic Hare Facts
- Nicknamed the "Polar Rabbit," Arctic Hares have shorter ears than rabbits, stand taller, and thrive in polar regions.
- Arctic Hares in the far north remain white year-round, while those in southern regions moult to brown fur in summer for camouflage.
- They are among the largest in the taxonomic order Lagomorphs.
- Though predominantly folivores, they have been known to eat fish and the stomach contents of dead animals.
- They dig holes under the snow or ground to stay warm and sleep.
- Black eyelashes protect their eyes from glare.
- Their eye placement allows them to see 360 degrees without turning their heads.
Best Deals
Spitsbergen - Northeast Greenland, Fly & Sail
12 Aug - 31 Aug 2026$ 9.500
Northeast Greenland Extreme
15 Aug - 28 Aug 2026$ 8.650
East Greenland, Scoresby Sund, Including Long Hikes
16 Aug - 25 Aug 2026$ 6.000
Northeast Greenland Extreme
25 Aug - 07 Sep 2026$ 7.850
East Greenland, Scoresby Sund - Aurora Borealis, Fly & Sail
21 Sep - 01 Oct 2026$ 6.250
East Greenland, Scoresby Sund - Iceland , Aurora Borealis, Fly & Sail
01 Oct - 12 Oct 2026$ 6.300
Related Trips
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
Spitsbergen - Northeast Greenland, Fly & Sail
12 Aug 2026 - 31 Aug 2026 
20 Days / 19 Nights
From $ 9.500 per person
The Arctic
Akureyri
Northeast Greenland Extreme
15 Aug 2026 - 28 Aug 2026 14 Days / 13 Nights
From $ 8.650 per person
The Arctic
Akureyri
East Greenland, Scoresby Sund, Including Long Hikes
16 Aug 2026 - 25 Aug 2026 10 Days / 9 Nights
From $ 6.000 per person
The Arctic
Akureyri
Northeast Greenland Extreme
25 Aug 2026 - 07 Sep 2026 14 Days / 13 Nights
From $ 7.850 per person
The Arctic
Constable Pynt
East Greenland, Scoresby Sund - Aurora Borealis, Fly & Sail
21 Sep 2026 - 01 Oct 2026 11 Days / 10 Nights
From $ 6.250 per person
The Arctic
Constable Pynt
East Greenland, Scoresby Sund - Iceland , Aurora Borealis, Fly & Sail
01 Oct 2026 - 12 Oct 2026 12 Days / 11 Nights
From $ 6.300 per person
Blog
Blog
The Norse Settlement of Greenland
Erik the Red is a significant and vibrant figure in the history of the Norse Vikings. His story is primarily documented in the Icelandic Sagas Huaksbók (14th Century) and Skalhóltsbók (15th Century). These accounts offer slightly different versions of events that occurred 3-400 years earlier. The original saga of Erik the Red is believed to have been written around 1200 A.D., with the Skalhóltsbók version considered closest to the original. Additionally, Flateyjarbók (13th Century), which includes the Saga of the Greenlanders, is a crucial source for understanding the settlement of Greenland and the discovery of Vinland – North America.
Blog
Under the Greenland Ice Sheet
Anyone who ventures to the right part of the globe can encounter vast amounts of ice, but a Greenland cruise offers something truly unique: ice sculptures hidden beneath the northern ice sheet. Scientists once thought these sculptures were rocky hills buried in ice, similar to the Ghost Mountains in Antarctica. However, it turns out that Mother Nature has crafted one of the most exclusive art exhibits in the world. These sculptures are not visible from the surface, but some scientists have managed to get a sneak peek using radar equipment.
Blog
How and When Did Greenland Become Covered in Ice?
Although it may be hard to believe, there was a time when Greenland was more green than icy. Today, those who embark on a Greenland expedition are greeted with views of the Greenland ice sheet and the marine life that thrives in this region, including seals and whales. Polar bears are also prominent in the northern and eastern parts of Greenland. These animals have adapted to their environment, but a few million years ago, the massive island would not have been as welcoming to them.
Blog
Harp seals harping on in Greenland
Harp seals are a moderately sized species, typically reaching about 1.6 meters in length and weighing around 130 kilograms. Both males and females are similar in size and weight, with males being only slightly larger. They possess a thick, robust body, a small broad and flat head, short narrow flippers, and a narrow muzzle.
Blog
Greenlandic Inuit Beliefs
Greenland is the world’s largest island and with the northern tip around 740 kilometres from the North Pole it is the northernmost country on Earth. The island is around 2,670 kilometres long and is about 650 kilometres across at its widest point.
Blog
Not Eskimos: 10 Enlightening Facts About the Inuit
If you are planning to join an Arctic cruise, you might be intrigued by the Inuit culture. To help you gain a deeper understanding of these people, especially if you are considering a trip to Greenland, here are 10 fascinating facts about the Inuit that everyone should know.
Blog
Greenland's History: When Vikings Ruled the Ice Age
A Greenland cruise offers a journey into a rich history filled with intriguing details that captivate polar expedition enthusiasts. Among the most fascinating historical aspects is the fact that Vikings once ruled this land. Anthropologists and climate scientists have long studied Greenland to pinpoint when and why the Vikings left. Recent findings have shed new light on this historical culture.
Blog
The Arctic Hare: Easter Bunny
Although the Arctic hare’s stern expression might make it seem like the least amused member of a serious tribunal, this polar animal is actually one of the most charming creatures on the planet – especially when Easter Sunday comes around.
Blog
5 Misconceptions You Might Have About Greenland
Blog
Discover the Scoresby Sund Fjord System in East Greenland
Are you considering a trip to Greenland? One destination you absolutely must visit is the world's largest fjord with stunning landscapes: Scoresby Sund.
Blog
The Small Mammals of the Arctic and Antarctica
As Lillian Gish says in Night of the Hunter, “It’s a hard world for little things.”
Blog
Greenland: Where the Kayak Was Invented
If you've ever enjoyed kayaking, you owe a debt of gratitude to the ancient Greenlandic Inuit who originally designed them for hunting. The thrilling adventures people now have navigating some of the world's most challenging rapids wouldn't be possible without the Inuit's need for a nimble form of water transportation. While travelers still use kayaks in this region, they are typically not fishing, whaling, or sealing. Consequently, recreational kayaks have been adapted to fit their new role.
Blog
Greenland: East vs. West
East and West Greenland offer vastly different experiences due to their unique climates, wildlife, habitation, and geology.
Blog
Scoresby Sund: the Greatest Greenland Adventure
In a land of expansive mountains, colossal glaciers, and majestic shorelines, few places are as expansive, colossal, or majestic as Scoresby Sund.
Blog
Kayaking In Greenland
Think of Greenland and two images come to mind:
Blog
The bowhead whale, whaling about the Arctic
The bowhead whale typically resides near pack ice, often in shallow waters. These whales are commonly found north of Europe, between Canada and Greenland, in the Hudson Bay area, the Okhotsk Sea, and the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas. In these regions, they filter food through their large baleen plates. Bowheads are known to open their large mouths and graze along the surface, in the water column, or on the sea floor.
Blog
Six Seal Species You Might See On Your Greenland Cruise
If you spot a grand old whiskered man lounging in solitary splendor, there's a good chance you're looking at a bearded seal. Your Greenland cruise will take you to bays where these solitary fellows (except during breeding season) hunt for fish in the relatively shallow waters near the shores.
Blog
Amazing Greenland
If you ever get the chance to take a trip to Greenland, you will be amazed by its coastlines, fjords, ice-covered peaks, and great expanse of snow-covered land. You will also notice that Greenland is a rugged area with a rich diversity of life, making it a dream location for scientists as well.
Blog
The World Is Changing for Greenland's Native Inuit People
You may know them as Eskimos, but the people of the Arctic are officially called the Inuit. Historically, they were hunters in the truest sense. For hundreds of years, they survived the world’s harshest conditions, living off their prey of whales, seals, polar bears, musk oxen, birds, fish, and reindeer. This has always been their way of life.
Blog
10 Traits of Post-Ice-Age Greenland
Grasses, sedges, and other species of heath were the first arrivals, and are still commonly found in Greenland. Scientists have been able to work out how plants colonised Greenland by examining ancient pollen samples found in deposits at the bottom of lakes: Dwarf birch came to western Greenland around 9,000 years ago, and around 4,500 years ago – roughly the same time humans were first boating onto Greenland shores – green alders were taking up residence there.