Jänis

Jänis is the Finnish common name for a wild hare, a mammal in the family Leporidae. Hares differ from rabbits in several ways: they are typically larger, they do not dig burrows for nesting, and their young are precocial, able to move shortly after birth. Hares are adapted for speed and escape, with long hind legs and large ears. They are generally active around dawn and dusk, though activity can continue during winter daylight hours in boreal regions.

In Europe, two wild hare species are common: the mountain hare and the European hare. In Finland the native mountain hare is widespread across forests and open landscapes; the European hare is less common in the country and occurs mainly in the southern parts of its range.

Habitat includes forests, fields, meadows, and brushy edges. Hares feed on grasses, herbs, shoots and bark, and adjust their diet with the seasons. They do not hibernate. Females (does) give birth to litters of leverets after a gestation of about 41–42 days; litters may comprise several young. Leverets are born well developed and leave the nest soon after birth. A hare’s predators include foxes, lynxes, wolverines, raptors, and humans through hunting and vehicle collisions.

In many parts of Europe, hares are managed as game species; population levels can fluctuate with winter snow cover and food availability. Diseases and habitat loss have affected some local populations. Jänis plays a role in folklore and rural culture and remains an important part of the European fauna.