Approachability of Hares

[Tobyh]

Thanks for the kind comments everyone, and some great observations and stories being posted - keep em coming

TobyH

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by Tobyh

Finally he actually ran right at me (when I took the portrait shot below) and realised around 10 feet away that I was there at which point he bolted back up the path.

While acknowledging the point that Jonathon makes about "hares have all-round vision their forward vision is poor" - I think this 'head on' run is a typical avoidance behaviour and have seen it used by hares dealing with dogs which are flumaxed by the near ninety degree turns that the hare can make at the very last moment. It may well be that the hare has to rely on scent and hearing but I'm sure the animal is aware that there is 'something' in front of it.

Personally I regard the hare as the 'icon' of British wildlife, ranging as it does from woodlands and meadows, to open downland and even moors. A far more elegant creature than those damn rabbits.

CM

[Lance Morgan]

I love Hares but they are not very approachable and very wary. I watch them every year in March 'boxing' in the fields but they soon move on once they realise i am moving up on them.
However, regrading forward vision once a hare came running towards me across a field (i was clearly visible) and stopped about 2 metres infront, crouched and sat there just staring at me. It was only when I heard shots in the distance I realised why . I walked on and it bolted over the road.

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by Cowgirl

Oooo, what does clapped rabbits mean? Is that a colloquial term for a rabbit trying to make itself smaller? I love finding out words like that.

I've never given it much thought to be honest Cowgirl, it's simply a word we've always used. Rabbits tend to 'clap' when one gets between them and their warren or cover. Initially they simply crouch but as one approaches they begin to flatten themselves into the ground. It's amazing how flat they can become, even on grazed sheep pasture they can disappear. Maybe it's a local Cheshire/Lancashire expression?

Cheers
Jonathan

[hwange]

My wife and i had a very close hare experience this july in the peak district. we were sat on a bench eating our picnic when i noticed a hare come through the gate around 100 metres down the field . we both sat motionless as the hare froze when it saw us , however the hare proceeded along the path towards us , stopping momentarily to perhaps assess us (?), it passed within a few metres of us , and continued along the path . we figured because we were sat still we posed no threat , we have seen hares in the area before and since that run immediately if we approach in their general direction .very interesting creatures indeed !

[emz]

I have been researching brown hare (Lepus europaeus) for the past two years and I have had many a close encounter with both adults and juveniles. Hares do have very poor frontal vision, if not an actual blind spot, I have approached hares (very slowly) head on and have been within 2-3m of the animal before it has turned its head slightly and run off. I have also seen adults (especially during Spring i.e. peak breeding season) approach humans if they happen to be standing in one of their habitual crossing points/ paths (hares tend to use the same gaps in hedges, paths along hedgerows/ through woodland etc).

Beautiful photos! It looks to be a sub-adult hare and I have no idea of the sex they are very difficult to sex even as adults at a distance. Females are usually larger than males, but this is challenging without a comparison!

[Ukwildlifeo]

I saw loads of hares today at Elmley Marshes (well 4). the first was about 15-20m from the path and not taking a blind bit of notice, despite me stopping and looking and from where it was I must have been a full height silhouette, and yet it just sat there.

The other 3 from the hide and they seem to hear my shutter but could quite work out where I was and carried on with their 'nibbling'