Wild Animal Welfare

Wild Brown Hare Coursing Prevention

Illegal hare coursing causes direct welfare harm to individual hares through injury, stress, and death - enforcement and reporting are welfare interventions.

Key Facts

Hare coursing with dogs was banned in England and Wales by the Hunting Act 2004
Illegal coursing gangs cause significant welfare harm to individual hares during events
Rural crime units working with the RSPB and CPS have increased prosecutions since 2021
Hares show extreme fear responses during coursing - stress hormones spike dramatically
Sentinel cameras and reporting networks enable evidence gathering for prosecution

Welfare Considerations

Illegal hare coursing causes direct, deliberate welfare harm to individual hares. Each prosecution and conviction provides accountability and deterrence that protects future individual hares from this preventable suffering.

What You Can Do

Report suspected illegal hare coursing to police and the National Wildlife Crime Unit
Support rural policing resources that investigate wildlife crime including hare coursing
Engage with the League Against Cruel Sports campaign work on coursing enforcement