It is thought that the brown hare originated in the grasslands of central Asia and were introduced into Britain during Roman times. Brown hares are much larger than rabbits and have tawny fur and very long, black-tipped ears. 
 
Speed is their main defence and they can run at up to 72 km per hour to escape predators. As they run, they tuck their tail down so that the white underside is not visible – unlike rabbits, which hold their tail up, flashing its white markings. Hares are mostly active at night and generally forage at dusk and dawn. Although they are mainly solitary, hares come together in small groups in late winter and during courtship, which often involves several males chasing a female.
 
‘Boxing hares’ are females fending off the attentions of amorous males during courtship by standing upright and striking out with their front paws. This gave rise to the phrase ‘mad as a March hare’ but it occurs throughout the breeding season, over several months.
 
Agricultural intensification, grazing pressure and hunting (both as game and as a pest when numerous).