Brown hare
Lepus europaeus
The brown hare can be distinguished from the rabbit by its long black tipped ears and large powerful hind legs. They do not use burrows, but make a small depression in the ground known as a form. They usually feed at night on tender grass shoots and cereal crops.
Hares are widely distributed through Britain except in the highland. This once common mammal has had substantial population declines in the twentieth century especially since the 1960’s. The National Hare survey in 2001 has estimated the current British population to be between 800,000 and 1,250,000 which is believed to be an 80% reduction since 1880. Hares are a UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species.
The decline in abundance is related to the simplification of the agricultural landscape in Britain. Increased intensification and farm specialisation plus changes in planting and cropping regimes such as a move from hay to silage, also autumn planting of cereal has reduced year round food availability.
The brown hare is widespread throughout the Tees Valley.
