Brown Hare Population Decline and Wild Animal Welfare

Brown hare populations have declined dramatically across Europe due to agricultural intensification. Understanding the ecological and welfare impacts of this decline informs conservation and land management practices.

Key Facts

Brown hare populations in the UK have declined by approximately 80% since the 1880s
Agricultural intensification — autumn sowing of cereals, loss of hedgerows, pesticide use — is the primary driver
Hares are leverets born above ground in forms, relying on cryptic colouration for protection from predators
Unlike rabbits, hares do not burrow — they rely entirely on cover vegetation which intensive farming removes
Mountain hares in Scotland and Ireland face additional pressure from culling on grouse moors
Hares can be legally hunted in many European countries with minimal welfare protections during pursuit
Agri-environment schemes that restore field margins and mixed farming support hare population recovery

Welfare Considerations

The decline of hare populations represents both a conservation crisis and a wild animal welfare concern. Survivors in degraded agricultural landscapes may face food scarcity, reduced cover from predators, and exposure to pesticides. Leverets born in fields of autumn-sown cereals face particularly high predation rates. Hares caught and coursed by dogs during hunting experience extreme fear, exhaustion, and often fatal injury. Conservation-focused land management that supports hare recovery also improves welfare conditions for surviving individuals.

What You Can Do

Support agri-environment schemes and farm stewardship programmes that restore field margins for hares
Advocate for stronger protections for mountain hares from culling on managed grouse moors
Support the Hare Preservation Trust and Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust hare research programmes
Choose food products from farms participating in stewardship schemes that benefit hare habitat
Advocate against hare coursing in jurisdictions where it remains legal