European hare

Appearance

Larger and longer-legged than the rabbit. The coat is yellowish brown to greyish brown with a white belly. The ears are long with black tips. Its strong hind legs allow speeds of 60–70 km/h when fleeing.

It lives in open farmland, meadows, pastures and forest edges. It does not dig burrows: it rests on the ground in a shallow depression (form), protected by its camouflage.

It feeds mainly at dusk and at night on herbs and cereals, and in winter on buds and bark. The breeding season runs from early spring to late summer; females give birth 3–4 times a year. Leverets are born furred and with open eyes.

Populations are strongly affected by agricultural intensification, predators and diseases such as EBHS.

• Track: when hopping, the long hind feet land in front of the short forefeet, giving a characteristic Y-shaped pattern.
• Droppings: round, flattened, fibrous pellets.
• Form: a shallow, foot-long depression in the ground.