Observation of the Week (12.31.2024)

Hi everyone,

Our first ever Observation of the Week highlights @er1kksen's January 6th sighting of a Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus).

These hares, adapted to colder climates, are commonly found in northern regions and at higher elevations, where their thick coats serve to regulate temperature. While Snowshoe Hares are not frequently seen south of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, @er1kksen's observation in the Quabbin Reservoir Region is particularly noteworthy. In Massachusetts, only 35 Snowshoe Hare sightings have been documented on iNat, with just 15 reaching the research-grade level. Remarkably, only 7 of these observations capture the actual animal.

Congratulations to @er1kksen for submitting the first iNat observation that captures an actual Snowshoe Hare in the Quabbin Reservoir Region and only the third Snowshoe Hare observation at the Quabbin!

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195971179

Best,
Brendan

Posted on January 11, 2024 04:25 PM by bmaher222