European Brown Hare
European Brown Hare Facts
| Size | 22-66 inches (55-68 cm) |
| Speed | 43 mph (70 km/h) (short distances) |
| Weight | 7.7-11 pounds (3.5-5 kg) |
| Lifespan | 3-12 years |
| Food | Grasses, herbs, tubers, twigs, bark |
| Predators | Foxes, snakes, birds of prey |
| Habitat | Europe, Russia, Asia |
| Order | Lagomorpha |
| Family | Leporidae |
| Genus | Lepus |
| Scientific name | Lepus europaeus |
| Characteristics | Largest hare; long hind legs and long ears |
Main Characteristics
The European brown hare is the largest of the hare species. Its most distinctive features include strong hind legs and long ears, which have a triangular black spot at the tips. Unlike European rabbits, brown hares do not dig burrows. Instead, they inhabit open landscapes.
Species
The European brown hare is closely related to the Alaskan hare, Arctic hare, snowshoe hare, mountain hare, white-tailed jackrabbit and black-tailed jackrabbit. All of these belong to the lepus genus, a group consisting of around 30 species. They are distinct from other members of the hare family due to their notably long hind legs and large ears.
Distribution and Habitat
European brown hares are found across Europe, Russia, and Asia. Due to their popularity among hunters, they have been introduced to other regions of the world. Today, they also inhabit South America, Australia, and New Zealand. Their preferred habitats include grasslands and open landscapes.
Way of Life
European brown hares are primarily active during dawn and dusk, but this changes in the spring. During this season, they become more active during the day as they search for a mate. It's common to see them chasing each other across open fields. However, for the most part, they tend to be solitary animals.
Anatomy and Appearance
Size and Weight
European brown hares typically measure between 22-66 inches (55-68 cm) in body length and weigh around 7.7-11 pounds (3.5-5 kg).
Eyes
The eyes of European brown hares are positioned quite far apart, which offers a significant advantage. This arrangement allows them to have nearly a 360-degree field of vision without needing to turn their heads.
Ears
European brown hares possess long ears that play a crucial role in detecting predators. These ears can grow to be 4-5.5 inches (10-14 cm) in length and feature black tips.
Hind Feet
European brown hares have large feet that reach lengths of 5.5-6 inches (14-16 cm). This is comparable to an adult human having feet that are about 16-24 inches (40-60 cm) long, equivalent to shoe sizes 20.5-32.5 (62-84). They have impressive strength in their hind feet, enabling them to run very quickly.
Fur
Their fur is typically a mix of yellowish-gray, ochre brown, or reddish-brown.
Brown Hare or European Rabbit – What’s the Difference?
The main differences between a hare and a wild rabbit lie in their ears and feet. Hares have long ears and feet, while wild rabbits have shorter ones. If you're curious to learn more, we have a detailed article that covers all the distinctions between hares and wild rabbits just for you!
Adaptations to the Habitat
European brown hares are easily spotted in open landscapes, yet they often manage to evade predators. How do they accomplish this? They are perfectly suited for life in expansive grasslands:
- Long ears – allow them to detect predators from a distance
- Widely spaced eyes – provide excellent peripheral vision
- Long legs – enable them to run away quickly
- Large nose – ensures they get enough oxygen when they need to flee
- Strong heart – gives them the energy to sprint
- Crouching – helps them remain hidden
- Flattening their ears – helps them remain hidden
Diet
European brown hares are herbivores. During the summer, they primarily feed on green plants, herbs, and grasses. In the winter, their diet mainly consists of tubers, branches, buds, roots, and bark. Occasionally, they will eat their own droppings, as these contain undigested proteins and vitamins. They spend about two-thirds of their day foraging for food. European brown hares have a significant appetite. It's said that two to three adult animals consume more food than a single sheep, despite the sheep being much larger!
Behavior
During the Day
What do European brown hares do during the day? Since they are active at night, they must find time to rest. But how do they manage that with predators lurking around? They have a clever trick to stay out of sight: they flatten their ears and nestle into a small depression in the ground.
Boxing
In spring, you can witness fighting European brown hares in action. They stand on their hind legs and strike each other with their front paws, resembling a boxing match. It was once thought that two males were competing for a female, but more often, the fight occurs between a male and a female. If the male proves himself, the female agrees to mate.
Body Language
European brown hares primarily communicate through their body language. When they perk up their ears, they show that they are alert. They warn their family by drumming with their hind legs. During a confrontation with another hare, they thump their front feet. In times of danger, they flatten their ears back.
Defense
European brown hares have a tough time defending themselves, so they rely on their ability to escape, using their strong hind legs. They are incredibly fast, making it difficult for predators to catch them. Additionally, they often change direction suddenly, running in a zigzag pattern to confuse their pursuers.
Senses and Abilities
Senses
European brown hares possess remarkable abilities in sight, hearing, and smell.
Jumping
European hares can leap as far as 10 feet (3 meters) and as high as 6.5 feet (2 meters).
Speed
European brown hares can sprint at speeds of up to 43 mph (70 km/h). They lack sharp claws or teeth to defend themselves against predators like foxes or birds of prey. As a result, their primary means of defense is to flee. The faster they can run, the better their chances. However, when danger approaches, they first flatten themselves against the ground, hoping to go unnoticed by their enemy. Only at the last moment do they take off. Their strong, long hind legs allow them to push off effectively from the ground and escape from threats.
Life Expectancy
European brown hares can live up to 12 years, but unfortunately, more than half of the young ones don't make it past their first year.
Enemies and Threats
Natural Enemies
The main natural predator of the European brown hare is the red fox. However, it is also hunted by wolves, lynxes, dogs, and cats. Young hares are at risk from birds of prey and owls.
Human Impact
Hunting and agriculture are among the biggest threats to European brown hares.
Hunting
Seeing a European brown hare is a rare treat. However, there are people who enjoy killing them for their meat and fur: hunters. In the year 2022/2023, over 230,000 of these animals were killed in Germany. The more that are hunted, the stronger the animals feel the urge to reproduce. They realize that their relatives are disappearing, which makes them afraid of going extinct. As a result, they tend to breed even more. But since humans have also wiped out most of their natural predators, they have no real enemies left. Hunters use this as a reason to keep hunting. What are your thoughts on this?
Agriculture
Agriculture requires increasingly larger areas of land, primarily to grow feed for livestock, as many people desire to consume meat. This demand results in a shrinking habitat and food supply for European brown hares. If we were to reduce our meat consumption, we would need less animal feed, leading to a significant increase in available open spaces.
Pesticides
In agriculture, crops are often treated with pesticides, which are used to keep insects and other pests at bay. However, European brown hares are unaware of what pesticides are and don't avoid fields that have recently been sprayed. They absorb seven times more pesticides through the spray mist compared to what they consume in their food. The more frequently they're exposed to these chemicals, the greater the impact on their health. This exposure can lead to reduced fertility in the animals or even result in their death.
Road Traffic
In Germany, around 60,000 European brown hares lose their lives due to collisions with vehicles on the roads every year.
Introduced Species
Hunters are dedicated to maintaining a healthy population of animals for hunting purposes. Consequently, European brown hares have been introduced to various parts of the globe. Unfortunately, in many locations, their numbers have skyrocketed due to the absence of natural predators. This situation has created an imbalance that places considerable pressure on the ecosystem.
Conservation Status
The European brown hare isn't currently classified as an endangered species. However, in Germany, it is listed on the Red List of threatened species. In regions like Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt, it is even considered to be at high risk.
Importance for the Ecosystem
European brown hares serve as a crucial food source for many predators and birds of prey.
Reproduction
Breeding Season
European brown hares breed from January to October, with March being the peak month.
Mating Ritual
What may appear to be a boxing match between males is actually part of the mating ritual involving both males and females. If a female strikes a male with her paw, she is either testing his resolve or showing disinterest.
Reproductive Cycle
European brown hares can have young up to three times a year. The gestation period lasts 41-42 days, and a litter typically consists of 1-5 young.
Leverets
Young European brown hares that are less than a year old are called leverets. When they are born, they already have fur and are quite independent. The mother leaves them alone for several hours each day to forage for food. During this time, the young hide in a small depression in the ground and remain still. Lacking a distinct scent, they are often "invisible" to many predators. They are nursed for about four weeks and can start reproducing by the time they are 6-8 months old.
What to Do If You Find an European Brown Hare?
Never Touch Leverets
If you enjoy spending time in nature, you may come across a small leveret hiding in a burrow or tall grass. It may remain still and not run away as you approach. This is likely a young one waiting for its mother, who is out foraging and only returns to nurse her young. It's important to never take or even touch a young leveret. Doing so can cause it to pick up a human scent, leading to rejection by its mother and ultimately, its death.
Report Sick Animals
Similarly, animals that appear sick or are behaving unusually should not be handled. The best course of action is to contact the local game warden, who knows how to assist the animal properly.
Fun Facts
Famous Painting
The German painter Albrecht Dürer created a watercolor of a field hare in 1502. It stands as one of his most renowned works.
Symbolism
The European brown hare symbolizes fertility and reproduction. Its mating rituals inspired the saying: "mad as a March hare". The „March Hare“ is also a famous character in "Alice in Wonderland".
The European Brown Hare Is Related To:
- African Savanna Hare
- Black-Tailed Jackrabbit
- Mountain Hare
- Scrub Hare
- Snowshoe Hare
- White-Tailed Jackrabbit
Animals in the Same Biome:
Sources:
- „The landscape ecology of brown hares and European rabbits in pastures in the north east of England“ (https://www.researchgate.net)
- "European hares do not avoid newly pesticide-sprayed fields: Overspray as unnoticed pathway of pesticide exposure“ (https://www.sciencedirect.com)
- "Pesticides and the loss of biodiversity: European Hare“ (https://www.researchgate.net)
- „European hares select resting places for providing cover“ (https://www.researchgate.net)
- "Home range use by the European hare (Lepus europaeus) in a structurally diverse agricultural landscape analysed at a fine temporal scale“ (https://www.researchgate.net)
- "Largest living lagomorph“ (https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com)
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