Science
Hare camo backfires as winters get less snowy – Futurity: Research News
With less snow, Scotland’s mountain hares don’t blend into their surroundings in winter. Researchers say it’s bad news for animals in a changing climate.
Mountain hares in Scotland that rely on camouflage to escape predators are becoming increasing mismatched to their surroundings due to less snowy winters, a new study shows.
Mountain hares are one of several species that molt from a dark coat in summer to a white coat in winter to maintain camouflage against snowy landscapes. But due to climate change, the duration of snow cover is decreasingcreating a “mismatch” in seasonal camouflage that could expose the hares to predators.
“If we want species…
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