The European hare, originally native to Europe and parts of Asia, has now been introduced and spread to parts of North and South America, Australia and New Zealand, as well as Africa, due to anthropogenic influences. The fur on the upper part of its body is darker in color compared to the rest of the animal, while the underside is white and the remaining fur on the sides is yellowish-brown to reddish. The upper part of the ears and the upper side of the tail are black. It can reach a length of just over 70 cm and weigh up to 5 kg (Southern 1965). Lepus europaeus is a surface-dwelling species and rests in shallow depressions on the ground called forms (Pielowski 1966). During the mating season, males compete against each other for females. Breeding begins in January and can occur multiple times a year, with young being born after 42-44 days (Southern 1965). The natural predators of the European hare include various predators and bird of prey species. The decline in hare populations is primarily attributed to habitat and food loss resulting from the intensification of agriculture, according to Meining et al. (2020).

Diet: Like all species of the genus Lepus (true hares), the European hare has a strictly plant-based diet, primarily consuming plant parts.

Conservation status: According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the European hare is classified as “least concern,” but populations are decreasing. In the Red List of Germany, Lepus europaeus is listed as “vulnerable.”