Wildlife Welfare

Wild Brown Hare Welfare and Conservation

Brown hares face multiple welfare threats including coursing, agricultural machinery, road traffic and habitat loss, with their welfare and conservation status interlinked.

Key Facts

UK brown hare populations have declined by over 70% since the 1960s
Hare coursing using dogs was banned in England and Wales in 2004 but illegal coursing continues
Agricultural machinery causes significant mortality of leverets hiding in crops
Brown hares depend on crop field margins and woodland edges for shelter and food
Agri-environment scheme management including late-cut field margins benefits brown hares

Welfare Considerations

Brown hare welfare involves both direct harm from persecution and indirect harm through habitat loss. Leverets that die from machinery are a preventable welfare harm; hares injured in illegal coursing suffer acutely. Habitat management through field margins and reduced pesticide use provides the food and shelter that hares need to raise young successfully. Population recovery improves individual welfare opportunities through reduced competition and better habitat access.

What You Can Do

Report suspected illegal hare coursing to the police immediately
Support agri-environment schemes providing hare-friendly field margins
Donate to hare conservation and anti-coursing organisations