Once common and widespread, the Brown Hare has declined in the last 50 years. Help us to record where Brown Hares are found in the Scottish Borders by submitting your sightings to this survey.
Identifying Hares
The brown hare (Lepus europaeus) is a large mammal with long ears and powerful hind legs. Each ear is about the same length as the head and ends in a distinctive black tip. The fur appears russet‑brown, and when the hare runs, a dark stripe may be visible along the back towards the tail.
Confusion species
People can sometimes confuse brown hares with rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) or mountain hares (Lepus timidus).
Rabbits are smaller and more compact, with shorter ears that lack black tips. When running, rabbits hold their tails upright, showing the white underside. In contrast, hares keep their tails down, revealing the darker upper surface. Rabbits usually live in groups and stay close to cover, while brown hares tend to live alone in open countryside.
Mountain hares occur mainly in upland areas above around 500 metres, where brown hares are generally absent. They are slightly smaller, have relatively short ears, and show an all‑white tail. During mid‑winter in Scotland, mountain hares also develop a completely white coat.
For more information on identification, please see our factsheet.
Where to see them
Brown hares typically inhabit open countryside, including grassland and farmland. Although they are mainly nocturnal, people often see them around dawn and dusk. Instead of digging burrows, brown hares rest in shallow depressions in the ground known as forms.
Their diet consists mainly of wild grasses and herbs, though they also feed on crops. As a result, some land managers view them as pests and control their numbers. In Scotland, shooting brown hares is legal during the open season from 1 October to 31 January. Outside this period, shooting is illegal unless NatureScot grants a special licence.
Distribution and Status
People introduced the brown hare to Britain during Roman times, meaning it is not strictly a native species. Despite this, many now regard it as a valued part of the country’s biodiversity. Once widespread and common, the UK brown hare population has declined significantly over the past 50 years. Agricultural intensification and increased predation by red foxes may have contributed to this decline.
Records held by TWIC show that brown hares remain widespread in the Scottish Borders. However, in some areas they have not been recorded since before 2000, and we are particularly keen to receive sightings from across the region.
The brown hare is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species and appears on the Scottish Biodiversity List, highlighting its importance for conservation action in Scotland.
How can you help?
Please send us your Brown Hare sightings for the Scottish Borders. You can submit sightings to our survey on the iRecord website or app. It is free and straightforward to use and you can even attach a photo.
All records will be verified by the Local Mammal Recorder before being uploaded to the NBN Atlas Scotland and shared with relevant recording schemes.