This March, witness the wild side of London’s outskirts as hares take centre stage in their legendary courtship rituals. From boxing jacks to moonlit parliaments, these enigmatic creatures embody the madness of spring. Meanwhile, rabbits prove their reputation as nature’s most prolific breeders, with kits emerging into a world of both wonder and danger. On 12 March, delve into the fascinating lives of hares and rabbits, their folklore, and their struggle to survive in a changing landscape. Don’t miss this captivating glimpse into London’s hidden wildlife—where ancient myths meet modern realities.
Article
Hares
The phrase ‘mad as a March hare’ is due to the extraordinary antics of the jacks whilst they are courting the jills. To see hares boxing is a spectacle inextricably associated with March, although you are often more likely to see it in February. Some hares still exist around the outer edges of London and they have even been known to run beside aeroplanes as they take off at Heathrow. Normally solitary, they are now congregating in open fields to fight over females.
They leap in the air, chase each other and, most famous of all, stand on their hind legs and appear to box each other. They also turn in circles and thump the ground, adding to this so called ‘mad’ behaviour. Leaps have been recorded over two metres and they keep landing in different directions. Fur flies on these occasions as they bite their rivals as well as giving them strong kicks. A kick from a hare has been known to jettison a stoat a few metres.
The jills are not averse to boxing themselves, especially if the males are too persistent and will also bite them. Being essentially nocturnal they are known to have ‘parliaments’ where several hares congregate together. On full moons, these must present an eerie and unforgettable sight. Not surprisingly, there is a rich folklore surrounding these creatures, some people even seeing the image of an upside down hare in the moon. Ancient Britons regarded their behaviour as some kind of animal worship to their goddess of the spring. Consequently, they refrained from eating them. In medieval times, witches were thought capable of turning into hares and often admitted it under severe interrogation. After copulation, the jack soon loses interest and returns to his solitary, nomadic life. Their preferred open rough grassland habitat is fast disappearing anywhere near London. However, the boundary areas with Hertfordshire and Kent are still places to look for them although Elmley marshes on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent is a safer bet.
Rabbits
Rabbits are quite rightly renowned as prolific breeders. Quite possibly the doe had her first litter last month and she may well go on to have up to five more before the end of the year. A mere twelve hours after giving birth she can find herself pregnant again. Her kits were born blind, deaf and as little as 30 to 50 gms in weight. As helpless as they are, she visits them perhaps only once a day, allowing them to suckle for as little as five minutes. After this, she plugs up the nest and leaves them. This continues for most of the month, then she abandons them altogether. On average, there are five kits per litter and they emerge five times their original weight complete with fur, teeth and claws. On emergence, they often attempt to suckle any rabbit they meet. It is a particularly dangerous time for them as they often emerge during the day and get caught crossing roads. By the end of the month their mother may have already found and prepared her next nest.
