Mountain hare in Scotland

© SCOTLAND: The Big Picture/Minden Picture

Info. Mountain hare running across snow in Scotland

The mountain hare is hard to see because, along with its speed, it's well camouflaged. These two qualities help this species survive in the rugged mountains and uplands of northern Europe and Asia – this hare is rushing across snow in the Scottish Highlands. They can run as fast as 70 kilometres per hour when escaping predators, but other animals may not even see them to begin with as mountain hares change coats, or molt, several times a year. Their fur turns from brown and grey in summer, to white-grey in winter, helping them hide more easily in the snow.