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 larger than rabbits and have very long black-tipped ears. Speed is their main defence and they can run and jink at up to 45mph to escape predators.  Hares are mostly active at night and generally forage at dusk and dawn. Although mostly solitary creatures they form small groups in late winter and during courtship. As this often involves several males chasing a female, they have earned the moniker ‘boxing hares’ due to their habit of fending off the advances of amorous males by standing upright and striking out with their front paws. This gave rise to the phrase ‘mad as a March hare’, although this behaviour continues throughout the entire mating season. Intensive agriculture, diminishing grasslands, coursing and hunting,  both as game and a pest, are all threats to the survival of the brown hare.