Global warming may make it easier for a threatened species to find food?

His research has turned directly to lynx, too, as a key predator of snowshoe hares and a threatened species.

Increasingly Mills and his students have noted an exceptional number of white hares on brown earth. Radio telemetry data revealed spring and fall to be the most deadly seasons for hares and a bonanza for predators.

“I’m speculating that the reason they are dying more in the spring and fall is because of the mismatch of colors,” Mills said.

That leads Mills to the “sexiest part” of snowshoe hare research – how they respond to climate change. While a warming planet affects all wildlife, a cute white hare has the makings of the next version of the polar bear as poster animal for global warming.

2008: Snowshoe Hare Population Explosion! | Photo Blog - Niebrugge Images

Two years ago I spent a fair amount of time photographing hares, as it seemed the population had peaked. Last year I was surprised to find even more, but this year the number of hares was nothing short of unbelievable! Driving the road in evenings and mornings was literally was a challenge, often they wouldn’t move from the road and you would have to drive around them. Dozens were killed by cars everyday making easy pickings for other wildlife. One wolf in particular seemed to walk the road every evening just eating road killed hares.

Snowshoe Hare: Nature Snapshots from Minnesota DNR: Minnesota DNR

During high population years, researchers estimate there are about 3,400 hares per square mile.