Wildlife

Wild Hare Leverets and Farming Practices

Brown hare leverets are born above ground in forms and are highly vulnerable to agricultural machinery during busy farming periods.

Key Facts

Leverets are born fully furred and mobile but remain in surface forms
Silage cutting causes high mortality in leverets and other ground-nesting wildlife
Central flushing and cutting from outside in reduces mortality significantly
Brown hare numbers have declined 80% since 1960 in the UK
Agri-environment schemes supporting hare-friendly farming practices are available

Welfare Considerations

Agricultural machinery kills leverets causing painful death and maternal disturbance. Simple cutting technique changes dramatically reduce mortality without significant production impact. Farmer awareness and adoption of wildlife-friendly techniques is the primary intervention available.

What You Can Do

Support agri-environment schemes rewarding wildlife-friendly farming
Share information about cutting techniques with farming contacts
Advocate for machinery speed limits during vulnerable periods