Cairngorm National Park in the Scottish Highlands is home to the iconic and charismatic mountain hare. As the days shorten, their summer grey-brown coats transform into striking white, allowing them to blend seamlessly into the snowy landscape and evade predators. The white fur, lacking melanin, may also provide extra insulation, helping hares retain body heat during harsh winter conditions.

Life for mountain hares is incredibly demanding. They endure some of the toughest conditions faced by any UK mammal, often confronting temperatures well below freezing, along with gale-force winds, snow, sleet, and rain. To conserve energy and shelter from the elements, they hunker down behind rocks or in holes they dig in the snow, waiting out the worst of the storm. Unfortunately, milder winters with less snow are becoming more common. This means the hares’ white coats stand out against the dark heather of the Highlands, making them more vulnerable to predators like the golden eagle.