Wildlife Conservation

Wild Brown Hare Conservation and Welfare

Brown hare populations have declined by 80% in the UK since the 1960s. Habitat loss, intensive agriculture and predation pressure combine to threaten both hare populations and individual welfare.

Key Facts

Brown hares rely on complex, varied arable landscapes for cover and foraging
Hare numbers have fallen from an estimated 4 million to under 1 million in the UK
Mountain hares in Scotland face supplementary culling pressures on grouse moors
Leverets born above ground are vulnerable to predation, farm machinery and cold
Hares are coursed legally in some countries, raising significant welfare concerns

Welfare Considerations

Brown hare welfare is compromised by habitat impoverishment, hunting and agricultural machinery. Conservation measures that benefit hares also reflect respect for their individual sentience and suffering capacity.

What You Can Do

Support the Hare Preservation Trust and similar conservation organisations
Advocate for mandatory wildlife surveys before spring agricultural operations
Join campaigns to protect hares from coursing where it remains legal