Lepus europaeus is native to Europe and South Asia, and was introduced everywhere else it is presently found. For example, it was introduced to Ontario in 1912, from Germany, and in New York State in 1893, and has been a successful game animal ever since (Dragg, 1974; William and Whitaker, 1943). In other countries such as Australia and Argentina, L. europaeus is a huge pest, with introduction resulting in agricultural disaster (Dragg, 1974; Bonino and Montenegro, 1997). Other common names for the European hare: common hare, brown hare (Caillol and Meunier, 1989; Poli et al., 1991)
European hares are usually quiet animals. They make low grunts from time to time and "guttural" calls from the doe (female) to her leverets. It has been suggested that European hares grind their teeth as an alarm call. They also emit a shrill call when hurt or caught (Peterson, 1966; Bansfield, 1974).
Communication Channels: acoustic ; chemical
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
European hares are widespread throughout Europe, where they are called common hares. European hares have done well in North America, with population numbers quickly rising to the current density. In Ontario population density has been as high as 100 per square mile, and has leveled to about 25 per square mile (Bansfield, 1974; Dragg, 1974). In recent decades there have been outbreaks of increased mortality due to disease, particularly in Europe. This syndrome includes acute hepatosis, enteritis, nephrosis, general jaundice, congestion, and hemorrhage of internal organs, and has been called European Brown Hare Syndrome (Poli et al., 1991).
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
In some areas, such as Argentina, Australia and, to a lesser extent, North America, L. europaeus is a pest. The problem lies in its quick reproduction and devastation to agriculture, especially young apple orchards (Bonino and Montenegro, 1997; Bansfield, 1974; William and Whitaker, 1943).
Negative Impacts: crop pest; causes or carries domestic animal disease
European hares have become an important and challenging game animal, especially in North America. The meat is said to be white and delicious (William and Whitaker, 1943; Bansfield, 1974).
Positive Impacts: food
European hares are herbivorous, eating grasses, herbs, and field crops during summer. During winter European hares feed on twigs, buds, shrub bark, small trees, and young fruit tree bark. They also commonly re-ingest their green, soft fecal pellets. This is known as coprophagia. Two or three adult L. europaeus can eat as much vegetation as one sheep (Banfield, 1974; William and Whitaker, 1943; Peterson, 1966).
Plant Foods: leaves; wood, bark, or stems
Other Foods: dung
Primary Diet: herbivore (Folivore ); coprophage
The natural distribution of European hares includes Great Britain and western Europe, east to through the Middle East to Central Asia (Lincoln, 1974; Broekhuizen and Maaskamp, 1980; Caillol and Meunier, 1989; Poli et al., 1991). They have been introduced by humans to several other continents. In Canada, Lepus europaeus is found in southern Ontario, around the Great Lakes, and south of the Canadian Shield. It has failed to spread further north. In the United States, European hares are now found in the north-eastern states and around the Great Lakes (Hall and Kelson, 1959). They have also been introduced to areas of South and Central America (Bonino and Montenegro, 1997) and Australia.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Introduced ); palearctic (Native ); neotropical (Introduced ); australian (Introduced )
European hares prefer open fields and pastures bordered by hedgerows and woodlots, often around agriculture fields and crops. They live in shallow forms; clumps of grass, weeds, or bush (Peterson, 1966; Bansfield, 1974; William and Whitaker, 1943).
Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland
Other Habitat Features: agricultural
Average lifespan
Status: wild: 12.0 years.
Average lifespan
Status: captivity: 7.4 years.
Total length: 600-750 (average 680) mm; Ear length, from notch: 94-102 (av. 98) mm; Tail: 72-110 (av. 95) mm; Hind foot: 142-161 (av. 151) mm; Skull length: 96-104 (av. 100) mm; Skull width: 44-51 (av. 47.3) mm (Peterson, 1966; Hall and Kelson, 1959). They have long ears with black tips and which are greyish white inside. The pelage is yellowish-brown to greyish-brown, with a greyish-white underbody. The face is brown, with eye rings. The tail is black on the top and white on the bottom. In winter, L. europaeus doesn't change its pelage to white, but does become slightly more grey (Peterson, 1966; Bansfields, 1974; Dragg, 1974). There is no noted sexual dimorphism. The skull features short, broad, heavy nasal bones, and prominent anterior and posterior lobes of the supraorbital processes. It also often has a prominent subcutaneous process of the lacrimal bone, projecting from the anterior wall of the orbit (Bansfield, 1974).
Range mass: 3 to 5 kg.
Range length: 600 to 750 mm.
Average length: 680 mm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike
Known predators include red foxes, wolves, coyotes (in their introduced range in North America), wild cats, larger hawks, and owls (Bansfield, 1974).
Known Predators:
Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic
The breeding season for L. europaeus is between midwinter (January/February) and midsummer. The gestation period is between 30 and 42 days (Bansfield, 1974; Peterson, 1966). There is a high in-utero reabsorbtion rate; 7% in the spring to 25% in the autumn (Bansfield, 1974). Litter size varies between 1 and 8, the average being 3 to 5 (William and Whitaker, 1943; Bansfield, 1974). There are two to several litters a season. The weaning period is said to be about one month (Broekhuizen and Maaskamp, 1980; Bansfield, 1974). The young, called leverets, reach sexual maturity at eight months to a year in age. During autumn, the male's gonads and reproductive tract are regressed and plasma levels of testosterone and luteinizing hormone are low. In females, luteinizing hormone basal levels are at a maximum in July, the end of the reproductive season (Caillol and Meunier, 1989).
Breeding interval: There are two to several litters a season.
Breeding season: The breeding season for L. europaeus is between midwinter (January/February) and midsummer.
Range number of offspring: 1 to 8.
Average number of offspring: 3-5.
Range gestation period: 30 to 42 days.
Average weaning age: 30 days.
Average time to independence: 1 months.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 8 months.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 8 months.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous
Average birth mass: 119.67 g.
Average number of offspring: 2.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
Sex: female: 236 days.
Leverets are precocial at birth, with long and silky fur (Peterson, 1966). To protect leverets, the mother disperses them over a moderately wide area to avoid predation on the whole litter. The mother then makes the rounds to nurse them (Bansfield, 1974).
Parental Investment: precocial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female)
