Gute news before Easter: According to the Hesse State Hunting Society (LJV), the number of endangered brown hares has shown an impressive increase in recent years. From spring to fall 2023 alone, state hunters recorded an average of about 26 percent, the association said. Hunting of predators such as foxes, carrion crows and raccoons is the reason for the generally good rabbit population.

However, the censuses show very different populations depending on the structure of the reference areas. According to information, up to 200 animals per square kilometer can be counted in heavily agricultural areas. In densely forested areas, the brown hare as a typical representative of open land occurs only in low density. According to LJV, there are usually three to ten animals per square kilometer.

European hare on the red list

Spokesperson Markus Stifter also emphasized that the young rabbits had a hard time this spring. “Many female rabbits gave birth to their offspring at the end of February. Prolonged bad weather and humidity affect newborn rabbits. Animals spend a lot of energy to keep their bodies warm and are therefore susceptible to diseases,” he explained.

Therefore, it is especially important that the animals do not lose more energy due to disturbances such as browsing by dogs and frequent escapes. “Additionally, any daylight escapes indicate to predators, such as foxes and carrion crows, where the little rabbits are deposited,” Stifter explained. Because young rabbits are often placed on the edge of a field—not, as is often mistakenly believed, in the middle of a field—dogs should always be kept in the impact zone or on a leash, Stifter advises. . You should also no longer cross the field.

Hessian hunters watch brown hares every spring and fall. They then count the animals in ten reference areas using so-called headlight taxation. At night, how many of them come into focus will be recorded. The numbers are included in the federal wildlife information system project of the German states. Nationwide, an average of 19 brown hares per square kilometer jumped on fields, meadows and fields in the spring of 2023 – the highest value since nationwide monitoring began in 2001, according to the German Hunting Association (DJV). The brown hare is on the red list of endangered animal species.