The end of autumn is the season for changing clothes for winter, and the same goes for animals. The Maruyama Zoo in Sapporo ( @marudou_fan ) recently posted a photo of a snowshoe hare "changing clothes" on Twitter, and its fluffy and cute appearance has been soothing many people.

Today's #Ezo-yukibagi
They are almost all white now after a hair change #Maruyama Zoo #maruyamazoo pic.twitter.com/5iY0dCv0AK

- Sapporo Maruyama Zoo (Official) (@marudou_fan) October 27, 2022

The white, fluffy Ezo snow hare looks just like snow in winter. But did you know that they have a different coat color from spring to fall?

The summer coat of the Ezo snow hare is light brown. It is hard to believe that they are the same rabbit when you only see them in winter. The Maruyama Zoo's official SNS also introduces other "changing clothes" friends, so let's take a look at some of them!

A plump and plump Ezo raccoon dog. You can't help but want to give it a big hug. In summer, their fur is short and thin, but in preparation for winter, when food is scarce, they gain 1.5 times their weight as well as the amount of fur they have!

Polar bears, the most popular animals at Maruyama Zoo, also change their appearance in winter. Polar bears are white all year round, but in winter they are a little fluffy. Polar bear fur is said to be hollow inside for better insulation. That is how they can withstand the extreme cold.

This is a raccoon. Their winter fur is fluffy and cute! At first glance, you might mistake it for a raccoon, but if you look at its tail, the one with the striped pattern is a raccoon.

Prairie dogs, which live in North America, are also fluffy and cuddly! They look warm and cozy together. In addition to the raccoons, the Ezo squirrels and the Ezo flying squirrels are beginning to prepare for the coming winter.

How was it? Why don't you go to Maruyama Zoo dressed warmly to see the fluffy animals? The cold weather will blow away when you see the adorable animals!

November 7, 2022, 2:11 p.m. added
A breaking news! On November 4, Maruyama Zoo reported on Twitter that "the Ezo snow rabbits have turned almost completely white! It really is glutinous, fluffy and snowy. They are all ready for the cold winter.

Today's #Ezo-Yukibagi
Individual animals vary in their shedding, but it's almost completely white #Maruyama Zoo #maruyamazoo pic.twitter.com/X42gCQoTK9

- Sapporo Maruyama Zoo (Official) (@marudou_fan) November 4, 2022

Maruyama Zoo

Location: 3-1 Miyagaoka, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
■Opening hours:
Summer March 1-October 31 9:30-16:30 (last admission at 16:00)
Winter: November 1 - end of February: 9:30 - 16:00 (last admission at 15:30)
See more details about Maruyama Zoo on Domingo

<Image courtesy of
Maruyama Zoo