Wildlife Welfare

Wild Brown Hare Welfare

Brown hares face welfare threats from illegal coursing, agricultural intensification, and habitat loss across the UK and Europe.

Key Facts

Hare coursing was banned in England under the Hunting Act 2004 but illegal coursing continues
Organized criminal networks are involved in illegal coursing particularly in eastern England
Brown hare numbers have declined by 80% since the 1960s due to intensive agriculture
Agri-environment measures including grass margins support hare recovery
Individual hares subjected to coursing experience extreme fear and often serious injury

Welfare Considerations

Brown hare coursing causes acute terror and suffering in individual animals and compounds pressure on a declining population. Enforcement of the Hunting Act ban and agri-environment support for hare habitat addresses both individual welfare and population conservation.

What You Can Do

Report suspected hare coursing to police wildlife crime units
Support agri-environment schemes creating hare habitat on farmland
Donate to organizations monitoring and protecting hare populations