Hare Today
There is some debate about the arrival of hares in this country. Did they arrive before the land bridge connecting us to the rest of Europe disappeared or did the Romans introduce them? What is not in doubt is that the hare population has fallen from 4 million in Victorian times to 600,000 now.
The anatomy and physiology of hares are designed with speed and escape from predators in mind. Their powerful back legs enable them to run at over 40mph. Their oddly positioned eyes allow them almost 360 degrees of vision and their exceptional ears help them detect predators at great distances.
The reduction in numbers is not only due to predation but to changes in agriculture. The Common Agriculture Policy was introduced by the European Commission in 1962. It was designed to make farming more productive. Field sizes increased and many hedgerows disappeared. No mammal was so badly affected as the brown hare. Combine harvesters lay waste to many hares.
Who are the hare’s main predators? Adult hares can outrun a fox, but as many as 80% of leverets are killed. In Norfo
lk, which has a large population of hares, most of the land is estate land and estate managers control the fox population. Sadly, hares cannot outrun bullets….300,000 hares a year are shot for sport every year.
Hare coursing with dogs was outlawed in 2004 when the Hunting Act was introduced. In all other parts of the UK and Europe, the shooting of hares is only legal outside the breeding season (February to September). Outrageously, in England, it is permitted at any time of the year. This is in spite of hares being a “Priority species” under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. On March 26th at a parliamentary event at the House of Lords, Baroness Arminka Helic promoted the Private Members Bill that she introduced, which, if it becomes law, would ban hare shooting in the breeding season.
If like me, the sight of a hare sitting upright in a field or bolting at 40 mph, brings joy to your heart, please sign the petition which can be found under “Petitions” on the UK Government and Parliament website1. Make sure the hare is not “gone tomorrow”. Ruth Gowing