Hares
The European or Brown Hare is a long-eared, long-legged, rabbit-like, herbivorous mammal which is largely nocturnal. It was introduced into Australia, from England, in the 1830s and to Victoria in the early 1860s, as a game animal. It is found throughout the state, but never in large numbers, and is usually absent from wet and damp forests. Hares were categorised as vermin under the Vermin and Noxious Weed Act 1958 but are now less formally classified as pest animals under Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994
Hares breed in spring/summer the young are born between september & october . In favourable conditions a breeding pair can produce 2-5 litters with each litter containing 2-4 young. Whilst hares dont burrow like rabbits they can do a lot of damage to tree plantations as they like to snap young trees off at the base , they can do major damage in tree plantations in a short amount of time.
They also ringbark larger trees and also target crops .
Hares are large animals & can reach weights up to & over 5kgs so they will compete with livestock for grazing.
Controlling hares can be tricky but at RabbitBusters we Long Net them with a completely different method to rabbits.