Corbet and Hill (1987) suggested a circumpolar distribution of L. timidus with L. arcticus and L. othus as conspecific with L. timidus based on morphological characteristics. This is still (partially) supported by genetic studies based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) even though evidences based only on mtDNA should be treated carefully (Waltari et al. 2004, Wu et al. 2005). A phylogenetic study of the genus Lepus based on mtDNA and nuclear DNA (nDNA) suggests that L. timidus, L. arcticus, and L. othus may have started diverging at about 270,000 years ago in a presumably strict allopatric speciation process (Melo-Ferreira et al. 2012).

Another phylogenetic study of Lepus analysing whole exome data revealed a potential paraphyly of L. timidus with L. othus. As sister taxa they likely shared a very recent common ancestor and, hence, the classification as separate species has been debated (Alves et al. 2008, Melo-Ferreira et al. 2012). Although closely related (Waltari and Cook 2005, Melo-Ferreira et al. 2012, Ferreira et al. 2021), the three species are treated nowadays as different species. However, the border between the Mountain Hare (L. timidus) and the Alaskan Hare (L. othus) are not clear and might be either in Bering Strait or in Kolyma (Angerbjörn and Schai-Braun 2022).

European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)
EU 27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

This species has a large range but declining abundance in the European region. The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population size criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e. less than 10,000 mature individuals in conjunction with appropriate decline rates and subpopulation qualifiers). The population trend has also not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the threshold for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e. declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations), although several subpopulations (Scandinavia, British Isles, Alps) are declining. Therefore, it is evaluated as Least Concern (LC) for both Europe and for the EU 27 Member States.

In the European region, the Mountain Hare occurs all over Norway, Finland, and Sweden, including the Baltic islands of Öland, Gotland, and Åland. It has also been introduced to many small islands in this region. It occurs naturally in Estonia, including Hiiumaa and Saaremaa, and Latvia and Lithuania. In Poland, it is found only in the isolated Augustow and Rominty forests (54° N). Isolated alpine subpopulations occur above 1,300 m in the mountains of southern Germany, with natural postglacial occurrence also in Austria, France, Italy, the Slovenian Alps, and all of Switzerland except the Jura. Mountain Hares have a natural origin in Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man. It has never been present on Iceland.

A hybrid of L. t. timidus and L. t. sylvaticus was introduced into the Faroe Islands in 1854. There have been many introductions (mainly in the 19th century) to, for example, the Shetland Islands (to Vaila Island in 1900, to the main island in 1907), Orkney, Outer Hebrides, Skye, Raasay, Scalpay, Mull, Arran, Bute, Jura, Eigg, and Islay (now extinct). However, the distribution has decreased in several areas, especially at the southern range all through Europe and Russia (Thulin 2003). In Russia, it is found all through the taiga and tundra from the Kola Peninsula to Kamchatka southward to 53° N with isolated pockets to 49° N. The range of the Mountain Hare in Scandinavia (as the subspecies L. t. timidus) includes all of Norway, Sweden south to 59° N, all of Finland, and European Russia south to 57° to 58° N. Polish hares may belong to this subspecies but an exact determination is not possible (Cabon-Raczynska 1963). L. t. sylvaticus is the hare of southern Sweden, with hybrid zones with L. t. timidus to west Latvia, the south coast of Norway, and the Faroes (where it is introduced). L. t. kozhevnikovi, the Central Russian hare, ranges from 57° to 58° N, where it apparently intergrades with L. t. timidus, south to 53° N. The western boundary is unclear and most authors refer to eastern Baltic Hares as L. t. timidus, although Ognev (1940) suggests L. t. kozhevnikovi reaches St. Petersburg.

The original distribution of L. t. scoticus in the Scottish Highlands has been extended by the introduction to southwestern Scotland in 1834–62 (Ritchie 1929), the English Peak District, north Wales, and many islands (Yalden 1984; not mapped). L. t. hibernicus occurs over the whole of Ireland on moorland and pasture down to sea level. L. t. hibernicus was introduced to southwestern Scotland, Mull, and the English Lake District about 1890 (Corbet and Southern 1977; not mapped). L. t. varronis consists of relict subpopulations in the Alps above ca.1,300 m in Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Slovenia.

Out of the European region, the species extends in tundra and taiga habitats east of the Ural Mountains through Russia to Japan.

Although subpopulations are stable across much of its geographic distribution with strong fluctuations occurring in northern Europe, there are declines in several areas, for example, Russia, large portions of Sweden, the Alps, Scotland, and Ireland. The abundance of mountain hares is decreasing all over the distribution area. This can be related to many different processes. A combination of global warming and habitat change are probably the main reasons (Elmhagen et al. 2015).

Mountain Hares occupy tundra and open forest, particularly of early successional stages. In Scotland and Ireland, heather moors and bogland are favoured habitats, and in southern Russia copses (small woodlands) in the middle of open steppe and reed belts around lakes. The diet varies with the habitat. In Scotland and Ireland much Heather (Calluna) is eaten, but this is not a major food item elsewhere in Europe, where willow, aspen, birch, juniper, poplar, and Vaccinium are favoured (Flux and Angermann 1990). Palatable grasses and clovers are taken when available. Mountain Hares are nocturnal, but there is increased daylight activity in summer when nights are short, or in winter when food is scarce (Flux and Angermann 1990). In areas where L. timidus and L. europaeus coexist, L. timidus retreats to areas of higher elevation, presumably as a result of competitive exclusion (Thulin 2003).

Threats include increased exposure to parasites and diseases, increase of generalist predators, and agricultural practices. Regional declines in Mountain Hare subpopulations suggest that investigations should be conducted to ascertain the causes. The current situation of the endemic Irish Hare (L. t. hibernicus) and the Alpine Mountain Hare demand particular research. As a species well adapted to cold climate and high altitudes, the Mountain Hare may constitute an interesting sentinel species to assess the impact of global warming in ecosystems and on biodiversity.

Mountain Hare is a popular game species in most part of the distribution range. Release and restocking take place in many areas for hunting opportunities (Ahlgren et al. 2016) but often with little effects on the wild subpopulations. However, this confers risks of spreading diseases, parasites, and also of genetic swamping. Supplemental feeding during winters can have positive effects on survival and reproduction.

The Mountain Hare is listed under Annex V of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), and on Appendix III of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention). The species has been assessed as Near Threatened in Switzerland (Capt 2022), Norway (Artsdatabanken 2021) and Sweden (ArtDatabanken 2020), and as LC in Finland (Hyvärinen et al. 2019) and in Ireland (the subspecies Lepus timidus hibernicus; Marnell et al. 2019).

Although subpopulations are stable across much of its geographic distribution with strong fluctuations occurring in northern Europe, there are declines in several areas, for example, Russia, large portions of Sweden, the Alps, Scotland, and Ireland. Several possible causes for the decline of the Mountain Hare are under consideration, for example, disease, deforestation, agricultural intensification, predation, and interaction with other herbivores (Thulin 2003). There is evidence that in northern Europe areas of overlap between L. timidus and L. europaeus are not stable (Thulin 2003, Jansson and Pehrson 2007, Elmhagen et al. 2015), that interspecific competition between the two congeneric hare species is strong, and the European hare is invading the natural areas occupied by the Mountain Hare. This seems to be true not only for northern Europe but also for the Alps (Angerbjörn and Schai-Braun 2022).

Specific long-term monitoring programs should be implemented on this species, in particular in the Alps and in some northern European regions (Angerbjörn and Schai-Braun 2022) to understand the impacts of climate changes.