# Hare (*Lepus europaeus*)

> The European brown hare is a large, fast relative of the rabbit, with very long black-tipped ears, powerful hind legs, and amber eyes. Unlike rabbits, hares live above ground in shallow scrapes called forms and their young are born fully furred with open eyes. Brown hares can sprint up to about 70 km/h (43 mph), making them one of the fastest land mammals in Britain.

- **Category:** Mammal
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Native to open country across Europe and western Asia; widely introduced elsewhere, including parts of the Americas and Australia.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/hare/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Lagomorpha
- **Family:** Leporidae
- **Genus:** Lepus

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Lepus europaeus |
| Diet | Herbivore (grasses, herbs, crops, bark) |
| Habitat | Open farmland, grassland, meadows |
| Lifespan | 3–4 years wild (up to 12) |
| Weight | 3–5 kg (7–11 lb) |
| Top speed | 70 km/h (43 mph) |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Built for speed

The brown hare relies on speed and stamina rather than burrows to escape danger. Its long, muscular hind legs let it reach around 70 km/h and twist sharply at full pace, and its huge ears give excellent hearing and help shed heat. When a predator is near, a hare often freezes flat against the ground, trusting its camouflage before exploding into a sprint.

## Forms, leverets, and life above ground

Unlike rabbits, hares do not dig burrows. They rest in shallow depressions in the grass called forms and live their whole lives above ground. Their young, called leverets, are born fully furred with their eyes open and can move almost immediately — the mother leaves them hidden separately and visits briefly to nurse, reducing the chance a predator finds the whole litter.

## Mad as a March hare

In spring, brown hares are famous for 'boxing' — standing on their hind legs and striking at each other with their front paws. For a long time this was thought to be rival males fighting, but it is usually a female fending off an over-eager male. This dramatic courtship behaviour, most visible in March, gave rise to the saying 'mad as a March hare'.

## Range and conservation

The brown hare is native to Europe and western Asia and has been introduced to other regions, including parts of the Americas and Australia. It is listed as Least Concern globally, but in the United Kingdom numbers have fallen sharply since the early 20th century due to changes in farming, loss of varied habitat, and illegal hare coursing, making it a priority species for conservation.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the difference between a hare and a rabbit?

Hares are larger, with longer legs and ears, and live above ground in open forms rather than burrows. Their young are born furred with open eyes, while rabbit kittens are born blind and helpless in a nest.

### What is a group of hares called?

A group of hares is called a drove, and other terms include a down or a husk. A baby hare is called a leveret.

### How fast can a hare run?

Brown hares can sprint at about 70 km/h (43 mph) and change direction sharply at speed, making them one of the fastest land mammals in Britain and very hard for predators to catch.

### Why do hares box in spring?

Boxing is part of courtship. It is usually a female fending off a male she is not ready to mate with, striking out with her front paws. It is most often seen in March, giving rise to 'mad as a March hare'.

### Where do hares live?

Brown hares live in open countryside such as farmland, grassland, and meadows across Europe and western Asia. Instead of burrowing, they shelter in shallow scrapes in the ground called forms.

## Sources

- [IUCN Red List — Lepus europaeus.](https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Lepus%20europaeus&searchType=species)
- [Animal Diversity Web — Lepus europaeus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Lepus_europaeus/)
- [Wikipedia — Hare.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_hare)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/hare/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.