Taxonomy
Lepus europaeus | Brown Hare | Giorria gallda
Distribution
Status
Conservation status
Least Concern
Legal status
Third Schedule listed species under Regulations 49 & 50 in the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. (Note: Regulation 50 not yet enacted). Listed as a schedule 9 species under Articles 15 & 15A of the Wildlife Order (Northern Ireland) 1985 (Article 15A not yet enacted).
First reported in the wild
~1852
Invasiveness
Invasive species - risk of High Impact
Irish status
Established
Introduction pathways - 1
Release in Nature
Introduction pathways subclass - 1
Hunting
Invasive score
21
NAPRA Ireland risk assessed
No
Species Biology
Identification
"The European hare is a large animal, averaging (3-5kg) in weight, of relatively uniform appearance. The fur is long and curled on the back, with a tawny or rusty colour over the chest and sides, darker above, white below; and the tail is large and conspicuous, black on top and white underneath. The tips of the ears have a large triangular black patch on the back contrasting with the paler grey of the rest of the ear. In winter there is some white on the sides of the head and base of the ears, and grey on the haunches" (Flux & Angermann, 1990). Brown hares are "easily distinguished from Irish hares at night based on the length of the ears in proportion to the head, pelage colouration, the presence of black tips on the ears and a black top to the tail as well as the absence of white flanks and feet, characteristic of Irish hares during winter" (Reid & Montgomery, 2007).
Ecology
Interspecific competition for habitat and food is likely to occur with the mountain hare, due to the two species sharing similar habitat (Reid & Montgomery, 2007). Hybridisation between the two species has been demonstrated (Reid et al., 2009) and could impact on the genetic integrity of the native species.
Habitat
Grasslands and landscapes dominated by forbs, mosses or lichens; Heath, scrubland & tundra; Woodland, forest and other wooded land; Regularly or recently cultivated agricultural, horticultural or domestic habitat
Reproduction
Three to five litters a year, though annual production of young varies between populations (Flux & Angermann, 1990), and may produce up to 18 young per season in Britain (Swihart, 1984).
Pathway and vector description
There are detailed records of releases of brown hare in Ireland in the 19th century (Barrett-Hamilton, 1898 in Lever, 2009). They were released in County Cork at Castlemartyr and Fermoy in the 1850s and then Cos Wicklow, Armagh and Down in the 1860s ((Barrett-Hamilton, 1898 in Lever, 2009) but most of these populations are thought to have died out by the end of the 19th century (Lever, 2009). Populations found in Co Tyrone (Reid & Montgomery, 2007) are likely to be remnants of that original introduction, while populations in Co Derry (Reid & Montgomery, 2007) may be the result of subsequent introductions at locations and dates unknown (Lever, 2009).
Mechanism of impact
Competition, Hybridisation, Grazing/Herbivory/Browsing
Broad environment
Terrestrial
Habitat description
Prefer improved grassland over any other habitat type and then arable land over any remaining habitat types but were also found in woodlands, heath & scrubland and calcareous grassland (Reid & Montgomery, 2007).
Species group
Vertebrate
Native region
Europe
Similar species
Distribution
World distribution(GBIF)
Irish distribution
Established - Localised. Population of 700-2000 individuals was estimated to be present in mid Ulster in 2005 (Reid & Montgomery, 2007) but the Irish Hare survey failed to detect any in the Republic (Reid et al., 2007).
Native distribution
Native to all parts of Europe, except Iberia, Ireland and Scandinavia (Flux & Angermann, 1990).
Temporal change
Date of first record category
Pre-1900
Records submitted to Data Centre in 2024
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How can you help
Report any sightings to the National Biodiversity Data Centre.
References
Publications
Barrett-Hamilton, G.E.H. (1898) Notes on the introduction of brown hare into Ireland. Irish Naturalist's Journal, &:69-76.
Flux, J.E.C. & Angermann R. (1990) The hares and jackrabbits. In: Chapman JA, Flux JEC (eds) Rabbits, hares and pikas: Status survey and conservation action plan. IUCN/SSC Lagomorph Specialist Group, Oxford.
Hughes, M., Reid, N., Montgomery, W.I. & Prodöhl, P. A. (2009) Verification of hybridisation between introduced European and native Irish hares. Report prepared by the Natural Heritage Research Partnership, Quercus for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Northern Ireland, UK.
Lever, C. (2009) The Naturalized Animals of Britain and Ireland. New Holland Publishers, London, UK. Reid, N. (2011). European hare (Lepus europaeus) invasion ecology: implication for the conservation of the endemic Irish hare (Lepus timidus hibernicus). Biological invasions, 13(3), 559-569.
Reid, N., & Montgomery, W. I. (2007). Is naturalisation of the brown hare in Ireland a threat to the endemic Irish hare?. In Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy (pp. 129-138). Royal Irish Academy.
Reid, N., Dingerkus, K., Montgomery, W.I., Marnell, F., Jeffrey, R., Lynn, D., Kingston, N. & McDonald, R.A. (2007) Status of hares in Ireland. Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 30. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dublin, Ireland.
Swihart, R. K. (1984). Body size, breeding season length, and life history tactics of lagomorphs. Oikos, 282-290.
Relevant links
Global Invasive Species Database