Mammals

Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus)

Objectives

Targets

Total achievements to date (November 1998 - March 2001)

Countryside Stewardship Schemes may be benefiting this species and may be a good mechanism for reaching the targets set above although this is not currently being monitored.
An initial data search was undertaken and a distribution map has been produced. The brown hare is generally widespread, found throughout the County but with a large number of records in the northern uplands.
A desktop survey of local farmers found that 80% had "good" numbers of brown hare.

Current Action

Protection and Policy

Hares are game species and enjoy some limited protection through the Ground Game Act 1880 and the Hare Protection Act 1911. They may not be offered for sale between 1 March and 31 July, a discouragement to shooting during the main breeding period.
Brown hare has been listed as a costed, key species in the UK Steering Group Report.
Rodbaston College is lead organisation for the brown hare in Staffordshire.
The Mammal Society and The Game Conservancy Trust are the lead organisations for the brown hare in the UK.

Management, Research and Survey

Survey and recording is undertaken by Staffordshire Mammal Group.
Game Conservancy Trust study on the effects of field sports and fox predation on hares, in conjunction with regular spring census of hare numbers.
Advice on habitats available from Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, the Staffordshire Mammal Group and FWAG.
An SBAP Species Recording Card has been produced and circulated for the brown hare.

Brown Hare (copyright Darin Smith)

Action Plan

UK Lead Organisations:

The Mammal Society

The Game Conservancy Trust

County Lead Organisation:

Rodbaston College

Policy

Seek to ensure that policy makers for agricultural land are 'Hare Aware'. (SBAP Partnership, SMG)

Management

Seek to target long term set-a-side to increase hare numbers, especially on the fringe of current distribution. (DEFRA, FWAG)
Seek to manage non-agricultural land e.g. amenity grassland and parkland to encourage hares. (Landowners, Developers)
Seek to incorporate beneficial brown hare management practices into Staffordshire County Council farms estate tenancy agreements. (County Farm Estates)

Monitoring and Research

Establish the past and current range of the brown hare population in Staffordshire through desktop study and field surveys. (SMG, SER, Rodbaston College)
Undertake second national hare survey within Staffordshire. (SMG)
Collate Game Bag Data collected by the Game Conservancy for Staffordshire. (SMG, Rodbaston College)
Collate Game Conservancy spring hare census for Staffordshire. (SMG, Rodbaston College)
Continual monitoring of the species in Staffordshire via local mammal atlases. (SER, SMG)

Advisory

Contact with landowners to make them 'Hare Aware' as well as distributing the 'Hare Aware' fact sheet. (SMG, Rodbaston College)
Increase species awareness for the public and landowners through education, promotion and events. (SBAP Partnership)

Brown Hare (Copyright Darin Smith)

Complementary Plans