If you’ve ever spotted a hare sprinting across a field or seen two of them suddenly throw paws in the air and start boxing, you might’ve wondered what on earth they’re up to. Hares are some of the UK’s most elusive and fascinating wild animals, often mistaken for rabbits, but with very different lives and behaviours. From springtime scuffles to high-speed escapes, here are 13 things you might not know about these incredible animals.
Yes, hares really do box, but it’s not what you think.
One of the most iconic hare behaviours is boxing, especially during spring. You might assume it’s two males fighting over a mate, but more often it’s actually a female fending off an overly persistent male. She’s not looking to flirt; she’s saying, “Not today, mate.”
This boxing usually involves the female standing up on her hind legs and swatting at the male with her front paws. It’s her way of testing his stamina and enthusiasm. If he keeps up and still seems healthy and strong, she might eventually let him close.
They’re built for speed, not hiding.
Hares are incredibly fast animals, able to reach speeds of up to 45mph when fleeing predators. Their long, powerful hind legs and lean bodies are made for open spaces, which is why you’ll often find them in meadows, fields, and farmland. Unlike rabbits, hares don’t rely on burrows for safety. Their main defence is their ability to outrun danger. When threatened, they don’t go underground; they bolt, zigzagging through the grass in a blur of brown fur and adrenaline.
They don’t live in burrows like rabbits do.
Instead of digging elaborate tunnels, hares make shallow depressions in the grass called “forms.” These are simple, well-camouflaged hollows where they rest during the day and keep an eye out for danger. Because they’re more exposed, hares rely on their excellent eyesight and their stillness to stay unnoticed. It’s not uncommon to walk right past a hare in its form without even realising it’s there… until it suddenly takes off and gives you a fright.
Baby hares are born ready for the world.
Unlike rabbit kits, which are born blind and helpless, baby hares, called leverets, are born with their eyes open, fully furred, and ready to go. Within a few hours, they can move about and hide from predators if needed. The mother hare doesn’t stay with them constantly. Instead, she returns once a day (usually at night) to feed them. This reduces the risk of drawing attention to their hiding spot. It’s a tough start to life, but it gives them a better shot at survival.
They’re mostly solitary.
Hares don’t form family groups or colonies like rabbits. They’re solitary animals for most of the year, only really coming together during the breeding season, which runs from February to around October. Even then, they don’t stay coupled up. Mating is brief, and after that, it’s straight back to independent living. You’re more likely to see a group of hares in spring when males are actively chasing females around, sometimes resulting in those famous boxing matches.
Their long ears aren’t just for show.
Those oversized ears aren’t just adorable—they’re also incredibly useful. Hares use them to detect distant sounds, like an approaching fox or dog. Their hearing is sharp enough to pick up trouble long before it gets close. They also help with body temperature. When it’s hot, hares can regulate their temperature by releasing heat through the blood vessels in their ears. It’s a clever bit of built-in cooling, especially helpful during warmer months in open terrain.
They’re most active at dawn and dusk.
If you want to spot a hare, your best chance is early morning or late evening. This is when they’re most likely to be moving about, feeding, and socialising during mating season. In the heat of the day, they lie low in their forms.
Hares are crepuscular, meaning they’re naturally tuned to be active in low light. Their keen eyesight helps them navigate grassy fields and spot predators, even when visibility isn’t perfect. Early walkers often get the best sightings.
They can leap over fences with ease.
Thanks to their long legs and athletic build, hares are brilliant jumpers. They can clear fences and ditches in a single bound when escaping danger or just sprinting across the landscape at full tilt. This ability adds to their unpredictability because predators can’t easily corner them. It’s part of what makes a hare chase so dramatic to watch, with sudden turns, jumps, and bursts of speed that leave everything else behind.
They use zigzag running to throw off predators.
Hares don’t just run fast, they run smart. When being chased, they often zigzag through fields, making sharp, unpredictable turns to confuse their predator. This sudden change in direction helps them lose even speedy pursuers like foxes. Their erratic running style is so effective, it’s been copied in sports training and by other prey species too. It’s instinctive, and it’s one of the reasons hares often escape unharmed even when they’re spotted in the open.
They eat plants, but they’re picky.
Hares are herbivores, feeding mainly on grasses, herbs, and wildflowers. In winter, when fresh growth is harder to find, they’ll also nibble bark, buds, and shoots. They’re choosy, though; they prefer tender, nutritious leaves and won’t just eat anything green. If you’re lucky enough to have hares visiting your land or garden, leaving patches of wild plants, clover, or uncut grass can help give them a food source—just don’t expect them to stick around if you’ve only got lawn and no cover.
Brown hares aren’t native to the UK.
Even though they’re now a familiar sight in the countryside, brown hares were actually introduced to Britain by the Romans. They’ve since become naturalised, but technically, they’re not a native species. Our true native is the mountain hare, found mostly in the Highlands of Scotland. Unlike the brown hare, mountain hares turn white in winter and are adapted to colder, upland conditions. Both are protected under various wildlife laws.
Their population is in decline.
Hare numbers have dropped dramatically in recent decades, mainly due to changes in farming practices, loss of habitat, and hunting. Intensive agriculture and pesticide use reduce their food sources and cover, making survival harder. Protecting hares means protecting wild spaces. Supporting hedgerows, field margins, and low-pesticide farming can make a big difference. Even small rewilding efforts in local areas can help provide much-needed shelter and food.
Seeing one is still considered lucky.
Across the UK and Ireland, seeing a hare, especially around dawn or dusk, has long been seen as a good omen. They’ve featured in folklore, poetry, and old rural beliefs for centuries, often associated with mystery, moonlight, and the coming of spring.
There’s something genuinely magical about seeing a hare bolt across an open field, or spotting a pair boxing in the misty light of early morning. They’re wild, fast, and full of character. No wonder they’ve captured imaginations for so long.