Wild Hare and Rabbit Conservation Welfare: Field Sports and Population Management

Brown hares and wild rabbits are subject to lethal management and field sports that raise welfare questions requiring evidence-based assessment.

Key Facts

Brown hare populations have declined by 80% in the UK since the 1960s due to agricultural intensification
Hare coursing — using dogs to chase hares — was banned in the UK in 2004 on welfare grounds
Hare shooting during formal drives is legal in the UK and can cause injury without immediate death
Wild rabbits are classified as pests in many countries and subject to large-scale lethal control
Snaring of rabbits and hares is practiced in some jurisdictions and can cause prolonged suffering if not checked frequently
Myxomatosis — introduced deliberately in the 1950s — causes extended suffering in rabbits and still kills millions annually
Population management through lethal methods has welfare costs that should be weighed against management goals
Non-lethal rabbit management through exclusion fencing is effective and welfare-positive for agricultural settings

Welfare Considerations

Wild hare and rabbit welfare intersects complex territory between pest management, field sports tradition, and conservation need. Hares, whose populations have crashed due to agricultural intensification, are also subject to field sports that cause welfare costs including injury from missed shots and stress from pursuit. Rabbits, managed as pests, face lethal control methods including snaring that can cause prolonged suffering when poorly managed. A welfare-centered approach to these species involves applying welfare criteria to all management decisions: preferring quick death over slow, monitoring and enforcing humane snaring standards, and considering non-lethal management alternatives where feasible. The conservation dimension for hares makes the welfare case for better protection and reduced lethal take more urgent.

What You Can Do

Support hare conservation programs including habitat restoration and reduced agricultural intensification
Advocate for strict enforcement of snaring welfare standards including minimum check frequency requirements
Engage with field sports governing bodies about welfare standards for quarry species including hares
Support research into non-lethal rabbit management alternatives that are cost-effective for farmers
Learn about the legal protections and closed seasons for hares and rabbits in your country
Report suspected hare coursing or illegal snaring to wildlife crime units
Follow Hare Preservation Trust for conservation and welfare updates on brown hares