Two very familiar mammals this week.
The European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and the European or Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus) are both widespread and common, although the rabbit is the more abundant of the two.
The rabbit is well known as a fast breeding, hole dweller. The hare is lives above ground, using a slight depression in the ground known, as a form, for protection and cover.
Both Rabbits and Hares have been introduced to Australia and many other parts of the world. In Australia the numbers of wild rabbits can reach plague proportions, and they do considerable damage to both native and commercial vegetation. It would be better if they were not here!
These pictures come from animals in their native lands!
These rabbits are from Orkney in Scotland.
This hare ran past a bird hide at the Cley Nature Reserve in Norfolk.
Cheers - Stewart M
A balanced presentation Stewart. Thank you
ReplyDeleteThere are only hares here. The are abundant on the island.
ReplyDeleteThe agile hare here
ReplyDeleteHari Om
ReplyDeleteThey, like so many critters, are cute to watch, but we do tend to forget that they can be a menace also! YAM xx
The animals are indeed beautiful - in their home and native land. Australia has experienced the great folly of unwise introductions, but you knew that! Did I just hear a Cane Toad croak?
ReplyDeleteI have been doing posts on bunnies lately. They are all over the place and fun to watch. They are wreaking havoc in my garden.
ReplyDeleteU nas nie widuję dzikich królików, ale zające są. Zając był zagrożony wyginięciem, ale chyba się odrodził, bo widuję ich coraz więcej. Jak byłam dzieckiem, na święta była pieczeń i pasztet z zająca. Może dlatego prawie wyginęły. :-)
ReplyDelete