Brown Hare
The Brown Hare resembles the Rabbit but obvious differences include the Brown Hare's longer, larger body, much longer hind legs and longer ears with black tips. Generally, they are a brown-russet colour with a white underside. The tail is black on the upper surface and white underneath. In contrast to Rabbits, which have a brown iris, the Brown Hare has a golden iris and a black pupil.
Brown Hares are the fastest land animals in the UK and can run at speeds of up to 45 mph to evade predators.
Brown Hares are widespread in central and western Europe including the UK but they are absent in southern Europe. It is thought that they were introduced in to the UK during Roman times, probably from Asia. They have little legal protection, partly because they are game animals and can be managed by farmers and landowners and partly because they are also a minor pest and can damage crops and young tree plantations. Numbers have substantially declined in the UK and most of Europe since the 1960s mainly due to the intensification of agricultural practices as well as shooting, poaching and coursing and an increase in the number of Foxes.
Brown Hares prefer temperate open habitats and can be found in most flat country among open grassland and arable farms. Unlike Rabbits, they do not burrow but rest in a shallow depression in fields or long grass known as a form where only their back and head are visible. An adult occupies a range of 300 hectares which it may share with other hares as they are not territorially aggressive. Courtship involves boxing …. the traditional “mad March hare” behaviour. This is actually unreceptive females fending off males rather than fighting between males.
Date: 19th May 2017
Location: south of Hortobágy towards Szásztelek, Hortobágy National Park, Hajdú-Bihar county, Hungary
Brown Hares are the fastest land animals in the UK and can run at speeds of up to 45 mph to evade predators.
Brown Hares are widespread in central and western Europe including the UK but they are absent in southern Europe. It is thought that they were introduced in to the UK during Roman times, probably from Asia. They have little legal protection, partly because they are game animals and can be managed by farmers and landowners and partly because they are also a minor pest and can damage crops and young tree plantations. Numbers have substantially declined in the UK and most of Europe since the 1960s mainly due to the intensification of agricultural practices as well as shooting, poaching and coursing and an increase in the number of Foxes.
Brown Hares prefer temperate open habitats and can be found in most flat country among open grassland and arable farms. Unlike Rabbits, they do not burrow but rest in a shallow depression in fields or long grass known as a form where only their back and head are visible. An adult occupies a range of 300 hectares which it may share with other hares as they are not territorially aggressive. Courtship involves boxing …. the traditional “mad March hare” behaviour. This is actually unreceptive females fending off males rather than fighting between males.
Date: 19th May 2017
Location: south of Hortobágy towards Szásztelek, Hortobágy National Park, Hajdú-Bihar county, Hungary
|
Also in: Hungary
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |