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Hares and rabbits are mammals which

belong to the family called leporids. Along


with pikas (a small animal found in Asia)
they form the order of Lagomorphs.
Lagomorphs are distinctive in that they
have a second set of incisors.
Rabbits and hares are One type consists of
similar in some ways round fibrous balls, like
but different in others. the droppings we see
What they both have in in a field. The other
common is that they type, called cae-
are prey animals that cotrophs, look like a
rely on hiding or run- small bunch of shiny
ning to evade preda- black grapes and con-
tors. tain important nutri-
ents.
Standing upright on
their strong hind legs, These appear after
their long ears and the food has first been
panoramic eyesight digested and we hardly
alert them to danger. ever see these
Adult hares are about because the rabbit or
twice the size of rabbits hare eats them as they
but young hares may are produced. This
easily be confused with may seem distasteful
rabbits. to some of us, but lep-
orids must do this to
All leporids feed on remain nourished and
vegetation, such as healthy. Some religions
grass and other plants, forbid the eating of
which has a relatively hares for this reason. An Irish Hare at Glenlark Nature Reserve in
low food value. From County Tyrone. (Photo: Mike Rendle)
Hares and rabbits
this they must derive
feature in the folklore ing an egg on the species of Leporid in
enough energy to keep
and mythology of cul- moon's surface. The Ireland; the Irish hare
warm, move rapidly
tures throughout the hare was believed to (Lepus timidus hiberni-
and rear their young,
world and Ireland is no be the earthly form of cus), the brown hare
which they achieve by
exception. Eostre, who gazed up (Lepus europeaeus,
frequent browsing.
When people first at the moon that was but sometimes referred
Their teeth grow to as Lepus capensis)
colonised Ireland after her home.
continuously to com- the ice age, they and the rabbit
pensate for the con- This lore has not (Oryctolagus cunicu-
brought with them
stant wear and tear only given us the name lus). Hares and rabbits
pagan gods. One of
from nibbling plants of our present Easter have an important
these was the moon
into very small pieces. holiday but also Easter place in the island's
goddess Eostre, who
To help them get as was worshiped in the eggs and the Easter biodiversity.
many nutrients as pos- spring. Some cultures bunny (originally the Read on to learn
sible, leporids have could see the image of Easter hare!). more about hares and
two types of droppings. a hare (or rabbit) carry- There are three rabbits in Ireland.
Brown hares were tain hare turns white in use and agriculture
introduced to Ireland winter but this is rarely have contributed to
by landowners in the observed in its Irish their demise. Hares
19th century to supple- cousin. However, the prefer unimproved
ment game species for coat of the Irish hare land, which has
hunting parties. These may vary in colour become less abundant
attempts had limited throughout the year, with modern farming
success because sometimes developing practices.
many hares died fol- white patches. On rare Overgrazing, over-
lowing their journey occasions, all-white stocking and increased
from Britain. individuals have been production of silage all
Also called the recorded. have a detrimental
'thrush' hare, this Larger than rabbits, affect on hares and
species survived in Irish hares have black their habitat. Adults are
small pockets and tips on the ears, white An Irish Hare resting sensitive to disturbance
although its present on both upper and in a meadow. (Photo: and the young may be
status is unknown, lower surfaces of the Mike Brown) killed by grass cutting.
they are considered tail and long back legs breed throughout most Short vegetation and
scarce. that give them a dis- of the year, having two the removal of rushes,
There is no evi- tinctive 'walk'. or three litters with an hedgerows and other
dence that brown Although hares may average litter size of cover leaves them at
hares interbreed with, be found throughout two. higher risk of predation.
or threaten, our native Ireland from mountain- Leverets are born Some pesticides are
Irish hares. The two side to coastal grass- fully furred with eyes known to be deadly to
species are hard to tell land, they are most open. The mother hare hares and other
apart in the field and likely to be found in 'hides' them in vegeta- wildlife.
few confirmed recent 'unimproved' areas of tion and returns only Although hares have
sightings of brown species-rich vegeta- once each night to feed been hunted and
hares exist. tion. them. It is normal to coursed for centuries,
The Irish hare is one This provides not see a leveret on its nowadays the majority
of our true native mam- only food but also own and it should of people believe that
mals and is found only cover and shelter never be removed from these activities are
in Ireland. It is regard- where they can lie up the wild unless it is in cruel.
ed as a distinct sub- during the day out of imminent danger. There is evidence
species of the sight of predators. Weaned at six that coursing can
Mountain or Blue hare They do not live in weeks, the youngster cause high levels of
(Lepus timidus), which burrows but in a 'nest' will be old enough to stress in hares leading
is found in Britain and of flattened grass breed the following to sickness and death.
Europe. called a form. year.
With numbers at
However, unlike its The month of March The Irish hare popu- dangerously low levels,
close relation, the Irish is associated with lation has undergone a every hare is precious
hare is found in most hares, when females dramatic decline over and the provision of
areas and is not just may be seen fending the last thirty years and effective legal protec-
confined to mountain off or 'boxing' enthusi- numbers are low. tion underpins other
regions. astic males. It is widely believed conservation meas-
The fur of the moun- Irish hares may that changes in land ures.
Rabbits were intro- own kind. Young rab-
duced to Ireland by the bits are very difficult to
Normans in the 12th sex accurately, which
century and are now means that buying a
common throughout pair of 'females' may
the island. They were lead to an unexpected
kept in enclosed war- (and unwanted) popu-
rens and exploited as a lation explosion.
food supply. Juveniles are docile
Its Latin name, and submissive, but at
cuniculus, means around 3-6 months of
underground passage age many become
and these adaptable aggressive.
animals may be found A rabbit at night. Rabbits live for about 1.5 In the wild, rabbits
anywhere they can years in the wild. (Photo: Mike Rendle) become naturally com-
make burrows, petitive and aggressive
although they avoid the diet of other testing is becoming
as they mature -
wet areas. species such as buz- increasingly redundant
domestic rabbits are
zards and stoats. in favour of more
The general popula- no different. Neutering
Well known for their humane methods.
tion of rabbits remains will resolve many
relatively stable ability to reproduce, Although they have behavioural and breed-
although numbers fluc- they can have several been domesticated for ing issues.
tuate locally as a result litters each year from centuries, rabbits still
Diet is important to
of two virulent dis- the age of around three retain many qualities of
avoid common health
eases, myxomatosis months. With an aver- their wild ancestors
problems. This means
and viral haemorrhagic age litter size of six, and it is possible for a
providing a constant
disease (VHD). These these high numbers doe of any breed to
supply of high fibre
were introduced into are balanced by a 95% give birth to a baby
material such as hay or
wild rabbit populations mortality rate in their with the natural agouti
grass (not grass clip-
to control their num- first year and a life fur colour.
pings from mowing the
bers. span of only 1.5 years Contrary to popular lawn). Rabbits are vul-
Domestic rabbits (domestic rabbits may belief, rabbits do not nerable animals and
are also vulnerable to live 10 years or more). make good children's require a great deal of
both of these highly Babies are born pets. As prey animals, care and attention.
infectious diseases naked and blind in a most do not like to be They will require as
and owners can special burrow, or stop, picked up and cuddled. much, if not more,
arrange effective vacci- made by the doe. They need plenty of commitment and work
nation for their pets at Weaned at four weeks, space and a suitable as any other family pet.
their local veterinary they leave this burrow environment. With a lifespan in
practice. to take their place in The traditional rabbit captivity of more than
When numbers are the rabbit community. hutch is outdated and ten years, rabbits
high, they are often Their ability to breed does not allow a rabbit should never be
regarded as pests but has encouraged their to exhibit natural bought on impulse -
they have a very use as a laboratory behaviour. Often kept there are plenty of rab-
important place in the animal for testing prod- in isolation, these bits in animal sanctuar-
food chain and make a ucts such as cosmet- social animals prefer ies in need of good
major contribution to ics, although animal the company of their homes.
Hares Rabbits
Widespread but numbers in serious decline. Widespread and common but numbers fluctuate.
Adults weigh 2.5 - 3.5 Kg. Adults weigh 1.5 - 2 Kg.
Hares live above ground in a patch of flattened Rabbits live below ground in a series of burrows
vegetation called a form. called a warren.
Hares prefer to eat certain types of vegetation. Rabbits can adapt to different types of vegetation.
Hares do not breed in their first year. Rabbits can breed from the age of three months.
Hares may breed throughout most of the year. Rabbits breed between January and August.
A female will only have around 8 leverets per year A female may have around 45 young in a year.
in favourable conditions.
Born fully furred with eyes open. Hides in long Born naked with eyes closed. Mother digs special
grass and vegetation. Mother feeds only once at burrow or 'stop' and returns once each night to
night with milk for around 6 weeks. feed with milk for around 4 weeks.
Young hares are called leverets and weigh around Young rabbits are called kittens or racks and weigh
120 grams at birth. around 50 grams at birth.
Hares probably only live for about 3 years in the Rabbits live for around 1.5 years in the wild. A
wild. Only 25% of leverets survive the first year. mere 5% survive the first year.
Very little is known about the impact of disease on Rabbits are susceptible to Myxomatosis and Viral
Irish hares, but stress can cause sickness and Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD) both of which are
death. usually fatal.

Hare tracks Further Reading


Direction of movement An Irish Beast Book James Fairley
ISBN 0856403148
A Basket of Weasels James Fairley
ISBN 0950262625
Animals of Ireland G D'Arcy
ISBN 0862811996
The tracks of hares can be distinguished from
those of rabbits by The Wild Rabbit David Cowan
their larger size (11-12 cm long). ISBN 0713708999
Mammals of Britain and Europe
Corbet & Ovenden
Rabbit tracks ISBN 000219774X
Direction of movement
Website Links
Irish hare website www.irishhare.org
Rabbit website www.rabbitsonline.org
Campaign against coursing
www.banbloodsports.com
At 6-9 cm in length, rabbit tracks are smaller
Hare and Rabbit Helpline 08707 44 22 85
than hares' and may be superimposed with
fox prints as it stalks its prey. Text © Mike Rendle 2004

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