On the pastures and fields, brown hares can be found munching on young grass shoots and cereal crops. Unlike rabbits, hares do not reside in burrows; instead, they create shallow depressions in the ground called forms. Hares scratch out a form in locations where they can detect movement and easily find shelter from the wind, which might carry their scent to predators. Although hares are not very vocal, they are known to grind their teeth as a warning of danger. Primarily nocturnal, hares often remain unnoticed in their forms hidden in long grass during the day. However, if disturbed, they can be seen leaping across fields, driven by their powerful hind legs, and can reach speeds of up to 45 mph to escape predators. Hares breed from March to September, with females capable of producing 3-4 litters per season. During this period, you might observe hares boxing, which is a female fending off a male. Their young, called leverets, receive minimal parental care for the first four weeks of life. The mother leaves them in a form and gathers with them at dusk to feed, minimizing the risk of predators discovering them.
March hares
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