Hare

Lore & Background

Hares are swift animals and can run up to 80 km/h (50 mph) over short distances. Over longer distances, the European hare (Lepus europaeus) can run up to 55 km/h (35 mph). The five species of jackrabbits found in central and western North America are able to run at 65 km/h (40 mph) over longer distances, and can leap up to 3 m (10 ft) at a time. Normally a shy animal, the European brown hare changes its behavior in spring, when it can be seen in daytime chasing other hares. This appears to be competition between males (called bucks) to attain dominance for breeding. During this spring frenzy, animals of both sexes can be seen 'boxing', one hare striking another with its paws. This behavior gives rise to the idiom 'mad as a March hare'.

Reader's Guide

Hares are significant as the largest lagomorphs and as a key prey species across three continents. Their speed and leaping ability make them notable in their ecosystems. The distinction between true hares (genus Lepus) and rabbits is important in taxonomy, with hares having 48 chromosomes and being precocial—born furred and with eyes open—while rabbits are altricial. Hares have not been domesticated, unlike rabbits, though some captive populations are raised for food and sport. In human culture, hares appear in cuisine such as German Hasenpfeffer, Greek lagos stifado, and Maltese dishes, as well as in the idiom 'mad as a March hare'. Their jointed skulls and cecotrophy (reingestion of cecotropes) are notable biological adaptations. The European hare has become an invasive species in some regions.

Did You Know?

• A group of hares may be called either a husk or a down.
• A hare less than one year old is called a leveret.
• The Belgian hare is a domesticated European rabbit bred to resemble a hare.
• Hares have a reputation for better backward vision than forward vision.