Could the current Arctic weather bring with it some Arctic animals? The White Hare has taken on mythical status around Creggan. Sightings over the years are few and far between and are often unsubstantiated or simply down to hearsay, or should that be haresay? So is the legend based on fact or simply down to folklore? Our native Irish hare is unique in that it does not, as a matter of course, turn white in the winter. This is quite unlike its close relative, the mountain hare which is found on the British mainland and right across the northern hemisphere. Of course, there is always the exception. Examples of Irish hares have been seen with white patches on their usually russet coloured fur, particularly after the type of sustained snow cover which we are currently experiencing. It is as if they are unwilling participants in this game of camouflage, conceding only to a few highlights rather than the full peroxide rinse. Perhaps the legend of the wise old hare is true. Wise enough to know that a thaw is only ever round the corner and that a white hare in a green field is an easy target for would-be predators. This wisdom seems to be common among Irish subspecies. The Irish stoat, or whittard to use the vernacular, also refuses to play the game. The irish stoat’s European cousin readily turns white for the winter in northern parts of its range. The stimulus for the colour change is a continuous blanket of snow on the ground for forty days, a condition which we are very close to meeting, particularly in upland areas, which of course also happens to be the favoured habitat of this cunning carnivore. So could this unprecedented cold snap lead to some costume changes up in the hills? We’d like to know. If you spot an embarrassed looking hare, dressed in white, or a stoat, head to toe in ermine, make a note of the location and let us know. The Irish Hare is now a priority species which means it is protected from deliberate harm. An Creagan Centre is operating a new Biodiversity Education Service for schools and community groups and is keen to source local wildlife information. The Education Officer can be contacted on 028 8076 1112 if you have any news of unusual wildlife sightings in the area or would like to find out more about upcoming events at the site.