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Species
Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778
IUCN
NCBI
EOL Text
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)
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Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepus_europaeus/ |
occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
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Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Lepus+europaeus |
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
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Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepus_europaeus/ |
Conservation Actions
Research is needed to determine population dynamics specific to habitat type and the effects habitat change has on life history parameters with regard to declines (Smith et al. 2005). There is a lack of understanding as to why hare numbers are low in pastoral landscapes and therefore, research should be conducted within this habitat type with particular emphasis paid to demography and behavioral ecology (Smith et al. 2005). When population declines are the direct result of agricultural intensification, which results in increased application of fertilizer, landscape homogeneity and mechanization, population declines of L. europaeus can be countered by augmenting habitat to boost heterogeneity (Smith et al. 2005).
In Spain, molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that the Cantabric population has unique mtDNA in relation to other European populations (Palacios et al. 2004). As an important hunting species, declining numbers have prompted the importation of non-Iberian hares (from France and elsewhere) to supplement hare densities (Palacios et al. 2004). In an effort to conserve this population's gene pool, a captive breeding program has been implemented (Palacios et al. 2004). As of 2003 this program has successfully bred leverets and in 2004 turned its focus to increasing genetic variability by introducing individuals from new localities (Palacios et al. 2004).
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Rights holder/Author | © International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/41280 |
Canada
Origin: Exotic
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
Type of Residency: Year-round
United States
Origin: Exotic
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
Type of Residency: Year-round
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Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Lepus+europaeus |
Comments: Primarily nocturnal.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Hammerson, G., NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Lepus+europaeus |
The brown hare is a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP), the species action plan aims to maintain and expand existing populations, doubling spring numbers in Britain by 2010 (5). Aspects of hare ecology are currently being studied; this aims to guide conservation work (5). The species has minimal legal protection as it is classed as a game species. It is still hunted throughout its breeding season and is the only UK game species not to have a closed season, when hunting is prohibited (3).
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Rights holder/Author | Copyright Wildscreen 2003-2008 |
Source | http://www.arkive.org/brown-hare/lepus-europaeus/ |
Global Range: Native to Europe and western Asia. Introduced in Ireland, southern South America, Australia, New Zealand, various islands (including Barbados, Reunion, and the Falklands), and southeastern Canada and northeastern U.S. (has been found from southern Ontario and Michigan, east through the Hudson River valley to Connecticut; probably not established in Michigan). See Hoffman (in Wilson and Reeder 1993).
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Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Lepus+europaeus |
Average lifespan
Status: wild: 12.0 years.
Average lifespan
Status: captivity: 7.4 years.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepus_europaeus/ |
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
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lepus_europaeus/ |