Hare Comparison

[Chris Hawes]

Just sorting through a few old photos and I came across this one. I believe it shows two species of hare in the one shot. Brown hare on the left and mountain hare on the right (in spring/summer coat).

Not a good shot at all, but I thought it interesting as a comparison between the two, particularly in terms of ear-length and coat colour.

[Wild-Woman]

I feel that it's the light and the angle that may make the right hand one seem to have shorter ears. I would think therefore, 2 Brown hares.
Where did you take the shot?

[Chris Hawes]

I should have said - this was taken on the Glenlivet estate in Scotland.

[Wild-Woman]

Have a look at Wolfhill's shots in the Gallery Chris. He's got some incredible Mountain Hare shots that you could make some comparisons to.

[Dogghound]

I think Chris is Spot on with this photo, although its not close enough to see the definitive ID features so maybe never able to say with 100% confidence, but from this view the rounder profile, lighter coat colour and smaller ears can clearly be seen in the hare on the right suggesting mountain hare. The two rarely meet due to their more specific habitat requirements but occasionally do especially in Ireland.