SNOW DAYS

High in the boreal forests of Colorado, the snowshoe hare lives a secretive life. But one photographer has gained a unique window into its world

- Photos by DEENA SVEINSSON

Snowshoe saviour

Deena was suffering from depression when she heard that an area of the Colorado Rocky Mountains near her home sheltered the elusive snowshoe hare. “The idea of photographing these animals was just what I needed,” she recalls.

But the quest was far from easy. Deena had to lug her gear through deep snow, then wait for hours in sub-zero temperatures. Day after day, month after month turned up empty – until she found a female that she called Yvette. “She must have felt sorry for me, because she allowed me into her world,” says Deena. “In the eight years since, I have photographed many new generations of hares.”

This individual is demonstrating its sprinting prowess – snowshoe hares can reach speeds of up to 56kph, giving them an edge over predators.

High alert

Snowshoe hares have excellent hearing and can detect the slightest sound – of a predator, human or other hare.

Standing on their powerful hind legs, they move their ears in the direction of the sound to zone in on it.

Into the woods

Flashing the soles of its feet, a hare dashes into the trees. The species is found in high boreal and alpine forests across the northern US and Canada, at altitudes of up to 4,000m. With predators such as lynx and coyotes, it is skittish in nature. “If a hare senses danger, it will flee in a puff of powder,” says Deena.

Let it snow