More info for the terms: bog, cover, forbs
Snowshoe hares eat a variety of plant materials. Forage type varies
with season. Succulent green vegetation is consumed when available from
spring to fall; after the first frost buds, twigs, evergreen needles,
and bark form the bulk of snowshoe hare diets until spring greenup
[9,53].
Winter Foods: Snowshoe hares prefer branches, twigs, and small stems up
to 0.25 inch (6.3 mm) diameter; larger stems are sometimes used in
winter [35]. In Yukon Territory snowshoe hares normally eat
fast-growing birches and willows and avoid spruce. At high snowshoe
hare densities, however, the apical shoots of small spruce are eaten
[68]. The snowshoe hare winter diet is dominated by bog birch (Betula
glandulosa) which is preferred but not always available. Greyleaf
willow (Salix glauca) is eaten most often when bog birch is not
available. Buffaloberry (Shepherdia canadensis) is the fourth most
common diet item. White spruce (Picea glauca) is eaten but not
preferred. In Alaska spruce, willows, and alders comprise 75 percent of
snowshoe hare diets; spruce needles make up nearly 40 percent of the
diet [79]. In northwestern Oregon winter foods include needles and
tender bark of Sitka spruce, Douglas-fir, and western hemlock (Tsuga
heterophylla); leaves and green twigs of salal; buds, twigs, and bark of
willows; and green herbs [53]. In north-central Washington willows and
birches are not plentiful; snowshoe hares browse the tips of lodgepole
pine seedlings [47]. In Utah winter foods include Douglas-fir, willows,
snowberry (Symphoricarpos spp.), maples, and serviceberry (Amelanchier
spp.). In Minnesota aspens, willows, hazelnut (Corylus spp.), ferns
(Pteridophyta spp.), birches, alders, sumacs (Rhus spp.), and
strawberries (Fragaria spp.) are winter foods. In New York winter foods
include eastern white pine, red pine (Pinus resinosa), white spruce,
paper birch, and aspens [52]. In Ontario sugar maple (Acer saccharum),
striped maple (A. pensylvanicum), red maple, other deciduous species,
northern white-cedar (T. occidentalis), balsam fir, beaked hazelnut (C.
cornuta), and buffaloberry were heavily barked [22]. In New Brunswick
snowshoe hares consumed northern white-cedar, spruces, American beech
(Fagus grandifolia), balsam fir, mountain maple (A. spicatum), and many
other species of browse [74]. In Newfoundland paper birch is preferred
[24]. Further details on regional food preferences are summarized in
Bittner and Rongstad [9].
Spring, Summer, and Fall Foods: In Alaska snowshoe hares consume new
leaves of blueberries (Vaccinium spp.), new shoots of field horsetails
(Equisetum arvense), and fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) in spring.
Grasses are not a major item due to low availability associated with
sites that have adequate cover. In summer leaves of willows, black
spruce, birches, and bog Labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum) are also
consumed. Black spruce is the most heavily used and the most common
species in the area. Pen trials suggest that black spruce is not
actually preferred. Roses (Rosa spp.) were preferred but a minor
dietary item as they were not common in the study area [79]. In
northwest Oregon summer foods include grasses, clovers (Trifolium spp.),
other forbs, and some woody plants including Sitka spruce, Douglas-fir,
and young leaves and twigs of salal [53]. In Minnesota aspens, willows,
grasses, birches, alders, sumacs, and strawberries are consumed when
green [52]. In Ontario summer diets consist of clovers, grasses, and
forbs [22].