Mammal
Brown Hare
Lepus europaeusAlso known as European Hare
The Brown Hare is a large, long-legged hare with black-tipped ears and amber eyes. It rests in a shallow ground hollow called a form, then bounds across open country at high speed when disturbed.
Open-country MammalFast RunnerGround Resting
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyGrasses, herbs, crops, buds, twigs, and bark, with foods changing seasonally
Predators
- Red foxes
- Large eagles
- Lynx
ThreatsAgricultural intensification, road mortality, disease, hunting, and loss of diverse field edges
HabitatsFarmland, grassland, steppe, heath, dunes, open woodland, and field margins
Life spanUsually several years; exceptional wild individuals can live more than a decade
Classification
- FamilyLeporidae
- SpeciesLepus europaeus
Native Introduced
Native range in olive; established introduced range in rust.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Never approach leverets resting alone; their mother returns between nursing visits.
Responsible observation
- Ears: Look for very long ears ending in distinct black tips.
- Movement: Watch the powerful bounding run without pursuing the animal.
- Young: Leave concealed leverets exactly where they are found.
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