Hop hop hop, nibble nibble nibble, hop hop hop . . . could it be . . . could it really be…the Easter bunny?
It has soft brown-grey fur, long floppy ears, well developed hind legs (much longer than the forelegs), and a short fluffy tail that's black above and white below. But alas, for all you chocolate lovers out there (myself included), it's not the Easter bunny delivering treats, but the equally shy scrub hare.
Hares have much longer ears than rabbits, making them easy to identify. The offspring of a hare (called leverets) are born with their eyes open, fully furred and active, and within 48hrs after birth are capable of providing for themselves. There is limited parental care and the leveret only suckles once during the night until they are weaned. Rabbits, on the other hand, are born blind, hairless and immobile, being completely dependant on their mothers at birth. Scrub hares breed throughout the year, but there seems to be a peak during summer months (Sept to Feb) when the climate is warmer and wetter, they have a gestation period of 1.5 months (avg. 42 days) and females can have anywhere between 1 to 3 young.
Scrub hares are commonly found in savanna woodland and scrub areas (hence the name) however they can occasionally be found foraging in open grasslands. They have a preference for green grass, nevertheless will also eat the stems and rhizomes during a dry spell when food is scarce.
Hares are nocturnal and solitary animals, except during times of mating. They spend the day resting in "forms", which are indentations in the ground, made by the pressure of the hare's body, usually under a bush or a thicket. An individual will usually return to the same form for several days, unless it is disturbed and is forced to create another. The cryptic colouration of the hare blends in with the vegetation and form, camouflaging it from its enemies, mainly members of the cat family. If confronted by a predator they will remain motionless until the last possible moment, and then use a quick burst of speed to surprise their attacker and hopefully escape.
Although the Easter bunny may have escaped us this month, don't give up; keep your eyes open, because you never know when you might come across one of these endearing little creatures...
Scrub Hare - Photo by Michelle Swemmer
It has soft brown-grey fur, long floppy ears, well developed hind legs (much longer than the forelegs), and a short fluffy tail that's black above and white below. But alas, for all you chocolate lovers out there (myself included), it's not the Easter bunny delivering treats, but the equally shy scrub hare.
Hares have much longer ears than rabbits, making them easy to identify. The offspring of a hare (called leverets) are born with their eyes open, fully furred and active, and within 48hrs after birth are capable of providing for themselves. There is limited parental care and the leveret only suckles once during the night until they are weaned. Rabbits, on the other hand, are born blind, hairless and immobile, being completely dependant on their mothers at birth. Scrub hares breed throughout the year, but there seems to be a peak during summer months (Sept to Feb) when the climate is warmer and wetter, they have a gestation period of 1.5 months (avg. 42 days) and females can have anywhere between 1 to 3 young.
Scrub hares are commonly found in savanna woodland and scrub areas (hence the name) however they can occasionally be found foraging in open grasslands. They have a preference for green grass, nevertheless will also eat the stems and rhizomes during a dry spell when food is scarce.
Hares are nocturnal and solitary animals, except during times of mating. They spend the day resting in "forms", which are indentations in the ground, made by the pressure of the hare's body, usually under a bush or a thicket. An individual will usually return to the same form for several days, unless it is disturbed and is forced to create another. The cryptic colouration of the hare blends in with the vegetation and form, camouflaging it from its enemies, mainly members of the cat family. If confronted by a predator they will remain motionless until the last possible moment, and then use a quick burst of speed to surprise their attacker and hopefully escape.
Although the Easter bunny may have escaped us this month, don't give up; keep your eyes open, because you never know when you might come across one of these endearing little creatures...
Scrub Hare - Photo by Michelle Swemmer
Michelle Swemmer - Field Guide