The Hare in Flight

The following is excerpted from The Hare by Jill Mason.

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A hare’s first line of defense when it spots danger is to lie low: to press itself down close to the ground in its form. Only taking flight when it is under imminent threat. Brown hares can run up to a speed of 45 mph (70 kms) and often zig-zag or turn at right angles when chased, to elude being caught. The action of a greyhound in full flight exactly mirrors that of a hare. The long hind legs are thrust forward and the fore legs backwards between them. When not in danger, a hare will casually rise and stretch before lolloping off and stopping to sit every now and then to look around, especially if it has passed through a hedge. Because of their build, chased hares usually choose to run uphill, which gives them an advantage over other animals. All hares possess larger hearts and a bigger volume of blood within their bodies than animals of comparable size; this gives them greater speed, endurance, and stamina.


Image: “Running Hare” by Roger Oakes.