Facts About Rabbits and Hares

Rabbits

Despite finding them in almost every corner of the UK, often in very large numbers, rabbits aren't native to Great Britain and were actually introduced about 900 years ago from France.
Rabbits were intially bred for their fur and because they are a convenient size for a good meal, with no leftovers.
The term 'Warren', which is now used to describe rabbit colonies and burrows, actually comes from the name that was given to the walled enclosures that were built by Britons hundreds of years ago to keep their rabbits in.
A 'Warrener' is someone who is employed to look after groups of rabbits, providing food and protection from predators.
Rabbits are usally found on sandy heaths and clifftops, where the soil tends to be easy to dig and yet firm enough to support networks of underground burrows.
During the 1950s rabbit population in the UK were so large that the Myxoma virus was deliberately introduced, killing 99% of all rabbits in Great Britain within just two years.
Rabbits are the only mammals in the world that can see behind themselves without having to rotate their head.

The Brown Hare is the fastest land mammal in the UK, reaching speeds of up to 45mph.