Urban Hoppers: Gardening with Edmonton’s Hares

by Brett Kerley

You might think you’ve seen a rabbit dart across your yard or along a trail in the river valley—but in Edmonton, what you’ve spotted is more likely to be a hare. Though often confused with rabbits, hares are their own wild and wonderful branch of the lagomorph family, native to Alberta and built for survival in both prairie grasslands and boreal woodlands.

Edmonton is home to two native hare species, the white-tailed jackrabbit and the snowshoe hare.

Each prefer different habitats, but both species occasionally find their way into city gardens, whether as welcome wildlife or unwelcome nibblers.

This guide will help you understand Edmonton’s hares and choose the right plants and strategies for either deterring them or supporting them in your outdoor space.

White-Tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii)

Habitat: Prairie grasslands, open fields, meadows, and urban fringes

Common in: West and south Edmonton, golf courses, dry ponds, open boulevards, and rural edges

Appearance:

45–60 cm (18–24 inches) long; 2.5–4 kg (5–9 lbs)
Grey-brown in summer; turns pale or white in winter
Long hind legs built for bounding and escape
Long ears with black tips
Distinctive white tail seen when fleeing

Activity:

Active mostly at dusk and dawn (crepuscular)
Solitary and wary of humans
Spends daytime resting in shallow grass depressions called forms

Diet:

Summer: grasses, dandelions, clover, legumes, garden greens
Winter: twigs, bark from shrubs and fruit trees, perennial stems

Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus)

Habitat: Boreal forests, thickets, wooded ravines, and shaded shrublands

Common in: North and east Edmonton near forested parkland, river valley, and naturalized yards with heavy cover

Appearance:

36–52 cm (14–20 inches); 1.5–2.5 kg (3–5.5 lbs)
Brown in summer, turning bright white in winter
Shorter ears than jackrabbits, but still long
Huge hind feet (for snow travel) with fur-covered toes
Small, barely visible tail

Activity:

Nocturnal and crepuscular
Often unseen but leaves behind tracks or winter twig damage
Population rises and falls in natural 8–11 year cycles

Diet:

Summer: leafy plants, groundcover, berries
Winter: twigs from birch, aspen, dogwood, and willow; evergreen needles if desperate

Two White Snowshoe Hares Running and Jumping on Snow in Winter

Garden Impact

Though less aggressive than rabbits, hares can still cause noticeable damage to garden plants, especially when other food is scarce.

Plants Commonly Eaten by Hares:

Lettuce, peas, beans, and spinach
Clover and lawn grasses
Perennials like hosta, coneflower, and daisies
Bark of young trees and shrubs in winter. I found they love my blueberry shrubs, and have kept them down to 6” or less. A fence will be going around them this summer!

Jackrabbits are more likely to feed in open areas like vegetable beds and lawn edges, while snowshoe hares prefer shaded, wooded areas with low cover.

Plants That Deter Hares

To discourage hares from nibbling, incorporate unpalatable plants throughout your garden beds. These work by scent, texture, or toxicity.

Scented Plants:

Lavender
Russian sage
Catmint (Nepeta)
Alliums
Thyme and rosemary

Fuzzy or Tough Leaves:

Lamb’s Ear
Yarrow
Peonies
Columbine
Snapdragons

Toxic/Bitter Plants (handle with care):

Daffodils
Foxglove
Monkshood
Bleeding Heart
Milkweed

Always research safety for pets and children before planting potentially toxic species.

Plants That Support Hares

Want to support native hares in a naturalized yard or pollinator garden? Consider planting the native species that sustain them throughout the seasons.

Forage Plants:

Native grasses (blue grama, fescue, wheatgrass)
Alfalfa, clover, and vetch
Dandelions and plantain
Wildflowers like aster, fireweed, goldenrod – As I have a mostly native yard in the city, I find they love to hang out close by for that quick snack of my wildflowers.

Woody Food Sources:

Willow
Saskatoon
Red osier dogwood
Aspen and birch saplings

Habitat Builders:

Brush piles or log shelters
Tall ornamental grasses (Karl Foerster, switchgrass)
Untidy corners left wild in fall
Shrub thickets and mixed native hedgerows – I’ve also found hares love to hide out in between my garden boxes. It gives us both a scare on discovery!

Gardening Strategies: Deterrence or Coexistence?

Whether you’re looking to protect your kale or welcome wildlife, there are smart, seasonal strategies for managing hares in your Edmonton garden.

To Deter Hares:

Install 3-5 ft fencing with 1” mesh, buried 6–10″ underground
Use tree guards in fall to prevent bark damage
Apply natural repellents (garlic spray, blood meal, or predator urine) around vulnerable beds
Dog or Cat Fur – Place tufts of pet fur around garden beds. Some gardeners tuck fur into old nylons or mesh bags.
Human Hair – Collected from hair brushes or salons, placed in mesh sachets or scattered.
Companion plant deterrent herbs like thyme, mint, and lavender near edibles
Commercial Organic Repellents – Products like Plantskydd, Liquid Fence, or Critter Ridder are based on natural ingredients like dried blood, egg solids, or spicy oils.
Limit access by reducing hiding spots in critical areas (e.g., near vegetable gardens)

To Coexist or Attract:

Plant sacrificial greens (like clover or lettuce) away from core beds. They’ve never eaten my lettuce, but love the clover I have with my wildflowers.
Allow for untamed garden zones—edges, dry pond corners, or shady ravine-facing beds
Focus on native plants that feed multiple species, including hares, birds, and pollinators
Avoid excessive fall cleanup: leave seed heads and stems for food and shelter
Educate neighbours about the value of urban wildlife corridors and native habitats

Final Thoughts

The white-tailed jackrabbit and the snowshoe hare are quiet but resilient residents of Edmonton’s changing landscape. Whether bounding across a quiet boulevard at dusk or camouflaged beneath a snow-covered shrub, they remind us that our city is part of a larger ecological tapestry.