Hare (Brown) - Overview

Order: Lagomorpha

Family: Leporidae

Species: Lepus (32 species exist)

Distribution: widespread over most of Britain, except Ireland (where they have been introduced). Also occur widely in rest of Europe, Asia & Africa. Introduced to Australia, New Zealand, Chile & the USA.

Description: warm-coloured brown fur with orangey-yellow fur on face, throat and flanks. White underparts. Long, black-tipped ears; large, staring eyes. Long, powerful hind legs; short, black & white tail.

Size: head & body 52 - 60cm, ears 10cm. Weight: 4 - 6kg.

Life-span: up to 4 years in the wild. Can live up to 12 years.

Food: mainly grasses and herbs; also cereal crops, buds, twigs and tree bark.

The brown hare is a larger, more athletic relative of the rabbit. It is able to adapt to a variety of habitats and so is one of the most widely distributed land animals in the world. No other British mammal is better able to survive in totally open habitats where it is at the mercy of severe weather conditions and predators.