hares

Hares are mammals in the family Leporidae, belonging to the genus Lepus, within the order Lagomorpha. There are about 30 species of hares worldwide. They are distinguished from rabbits by their generally larger size, longer ears and hind legs, and by their reproductive and nesting habits. Unlike rabbits, hares do not typically live in burrows; they give birth to precocial young in simple ground nests called forms.

Physically, hares have long ears, strong hind limbs, and feet adapted for speed. Their fur often changes with the seasons in some species, providing camouflage in winter and summer. Hares are typically solitary or found in small groups, and they rely on rapid locomotion to escape predators. Most species inhabit open habitats such as grasslands, tundra, deserts, and forest edges.

Reproduction and development vary by species but share the precocial young characteristic. Females, or does, can breed multiple times a year in favorable climates, producing litters of one to several leverets. Leverets are born with fur and open eyes, and they can move shortly after birth. The timing and size of litters depend on food availability and climate.

Habitat and diet vary, but all hares are herbivores, feeding on grasses, herbs, buds, and bark, with seasonal shifts in diet. They occur across Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America, inhabiting a range of landscapes from temperate plains to Arctic tundra. Hares play a key ecological role as prey for many predators and as consumers influencing plant communities. Population trends are species-specific and can show fluctuations in response to predators and habitat changes.