The European brown hare is one of Europe’s fastest land animals, capable of hitting 70 km/h while executing rapid evasive zigzags that can wrong-foot even a greyhound. Unlike rabbits, hares never burrow — they rest in open depressions in soil called forms, relying entirely on speed and camouflage for survival. The famous ‘mad March hare’ boxing behavior is females repelling unwanted male advances during the breeding season rather than competing males, as was long believed.
About the Hare
Lepus europaeus
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⚡ Speed Comparison
📸 Photo Gallery
💡 Fun Facts
01
Hares are born fully furred, eyes open, and capable of running within hours — completely unlike rabbits, which are born blind and helpless in underground burrows.
02
A fleeing hare can change direction at full speed with a single powerful kick, making it extremely difficult for pursuit predators to catch.
03
Hares practice coprophagy — they eat their own soft fecal pellets directly from the anus to extract bacteria-produced vitamins B and K during a second pass through the gut.
04
A female hare (doe) can be pregnant with two separate litters simultaneously — a phenomenon called superfetation where a second pregnancy begins before the first is born.
05
The phrase 'mad as a March hare' dates to 16th-century England, referencing the seemingly chaotic boxing and leaping behavior of hares during breeding season.
📍 Where to Find This Animal
Habitat Types:
Open Farmland & Grasslands
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