The Ecology of the Brown Hare
  • Brown hares are distinguished from rabbits by their long black- tipped ears, loping gait, long limbs and larger size (approximately 3- 4 kg in weight).
  • Hares do not have burrows; instead they have small depressions in the ground, known as 'forms'.
  • Breeding season is between February and September.
  • Litters can consist of 2 - 4 young (leverets) and female hares can rear up to 4 litters per year.
  • Leverets are born above ground and are left by the females in forms.
  • Females gather the leverets at sunset to be fed, they are then weaned at four weeks.
  • Within the leverets' first year, it is likely that 90% will die due to disease, weather conditions, malnutrition and predation.
  • Hares thrive in arable habitats (60% of Britain's brown hare population) and are found to be much less abundant in pastoral land (about 24% of Britain's hare population).¹
  • However, during summer when cereal crops no longer provide grazing, grassland is used as feeding areas. Hedgerows and woods are used as resting areas, particularly during the winter.
  • Brown hares are a good indicator of a well managed landscape as they favour habitat mosaics.
  • The marginal uplands hold 11% of Britain's brown hare population, whilst the uplands hold only 5%. ¹
photograph by David Mason

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Status of Brown Hares in the UK

The brown hare is a common yet currently declining species throughout farmland habitat in the UK. It is estimated that numbers have dropped by approximately 75% since the Second World War.²


Hares are a UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species.
  • They are included in 53 Local Biodiversity Action Plans, 16 in Wales.
  • Brown hares are also included in S42 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (Habitats and Species of Principal Importance in Wales).
  • They have limited protection through the Ground Game Act (1880) and the Hare Protection Act (1911).
  • Between 1st March and 31st July, hares can not be offered for sale. This aims to discourage shooting during the main breeding season.
  • The Hunting Bill prohibits the act of hare coursing.

Factors affecting the population of hares
  • Changes in farming practices - stock intensification, use of silage rather than hay, spring to autumn sown cereals.
  • Intensification in cropping and harvesting and chemical spraying which reduces available food and habitat.
  • Increase in foxes, the major predator of young hares.
  • Hare coursing may still be a problem.
  • Wet weather can reduce the survival rates of young hares. A long term trend for wetter springs and summer weather may have long term implications for brown hare populations.
photograph by Darin Smith

Notes:
1. Mason,J. (2005)
The Hare - Merlin Unwin Books,Ludlow www.merlinunwin.co.uk

2. Tapper, S. and Hobson, D. (2002)
Conserving the Brown Hare - The Game Conservancy Trust.