Wild Hare Welfare and Conservation

Brown hares are declining across much of their range. Understanding their welfare needs and conservation challenges supports both population recovery and individual animal welfare.

Key Facts

Brown hare populations have declined by approximately 80% in the UK since the 1950s
Agricultural intensification has reduced the structural complexity of farmland habitat that hares require
Brown hares are solitary and non-territorial, spending their entire lives in open fields without burrows
Hare coursing (illegal in the UK since 2004) still occurs and causes significant animal suffering
Road traffic and agricultural machinery are significant causes of hare mortality and injury
Supplementary habitat management including beetle banks and grass headlands significantly benefits hare populations

Welfare Considerations

Hare welfare is affected by both population-level habitat loss and individual-level threats from predation, road mortality, and illegal persecution. Hares caught in coursing incidents suffer significant injuries from dog bites and psychological stress from the chase. Road casualties involving hares cause traumatic injury that may not be immediately fatal, leaving injured animals to suffer. Conservation measures that improve habitat quality benefit hares by allowing normal behavioral expression in appropriate environments.

What You Can Do

Report suspected hare coursing activity to the police immediately — it is illegal and carries significant penalties
Drive carefully in rural areas at dawn and dusk when hares are most active
Support the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and RSPB work on farmland habitat management for hares
Advocate for agri-environment scheme requirements that include hare-beneficial habitat management
Do not disturb leverets (young hares) found in fields — their mother will return to nurse them
Donate to wildlife hospitals that treat hare casualties from road traffic and other incidents