Wild Animal Welfare

Wild Brown Hare UK Welfare and Conservation

Brown hare populations have declined 80% since the 1960s - conservation management and reduced persecution directly benefit individual hare welfare.

Key Facts

Brown hares rely on agricultural grassland and arable field margins for cover and food
Coursing with dogs was banned in the UK in 2004 but illegal hare coursing persists
Hares box and chase in spring as part of breeding behaviour - not aggression
Winter cereal stubble retention provides critical winter food for leverets and adults
Illegal hare coursing causes direct welfare harm through stress, injury, and death

Welfare Considerations

Individual hares face welfare threats from illegal coursing, agricultural machinery, and habitat loss. Each intervention - stubble retention, field margin creation, coursing law enforcement - directly benefits identifiable individual animals.

What You Can Do

Report suspected illegal hare coursing to police and the National Wildlife Crime Unit
Support agri-environment schemes that provide hare-friendly field margins
Advocate for stronger enforcement of the Hunting Act against coursing