Help is needed to find out the size of Leicestershire and Rutland’s hare and rabbit population, the species' distribution in the counties, and the kinds of habitat they prefer.

Has their distribution over recent years been affected by changes in agricultural techniques?  The hare, in particular, is unusual in being an animal of open countryside, especially arable farmland.

People often see rabbits and hares running across fields but little is known about the populations of these shy creatures.

The two species have many connections with myths and legends.  At one time the hare was considered an omen of death and  the rabbit is often associated with luck.  Boudicca used a hare to predict the outcome of battles.  With all this history it is sad that the hare is now a UK Biodiversity Action Plan species due to its decline.

So seek those roving rabbits and leaping hares and tell us what you find!

You don’t need to be an expert to take part in the survey. The easy to fill in form contains information about  hares and rabbits, hints on how to spot the animals and the differences between the two species.  It  will provide valuable data which can  be analysed by the staff of the Biological Records Centre, to assess population sizes in our counties.

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