What Eats Hares? A Detailed Look At The Predators Of Hares

If you came here wondering “what eats hares?”, you’re not alone. Hares have many predators who love to snack on these furry creatures. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the main animals that prey on hares, looking at their hunting strategies and how they manage to catch quick-footed hares.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: foxes, bobcats, coyotes, eagles, owls, hawks, weasels, martens, fishers, and snakes are the main predators of hares. Now let’s dive into the details…

Hares and Their Predators

Brief Overview of Hares

Hares (Lepus species) are swift herbivorous mammals found in forests, shrublands, meadows, and tundra worldwide. Compared to rabbits, hares are generally larger with longer ears and have young that are born fully furred with eyes open.

Well-known species include the European hare, Arctic hare, black-tailed jackrabbit, and snowshoe hare.

Hares’ Defense Against Predators

To avoid predators, hares rely on their superior hearing, speed, camouflage, and ability to rapidly change direction while running. Their large hind feet allow them to reach speeds over 45 mph for short bursts. Hares are very vigilant and have nearly 360° panoramic vision to detect threats early.

At night, they use well-worn trails and familiar terrain to better evade nocturnal hunters.

When threatened, hares will freeze or rapidly zigzag in hopes of confusing the predator. If chased, they can quickly accelerate and alter their path to break the predator’s line of attack. Hares may also leap great distances sideways or double back on their tracks.

As a last resort, they will fight using their claws and teeth.

Common Hare Predators

Hares must contend with a variety of mammalian and avian predators. While specific predators depend on the hare species and geographic region, common hunters include foxes, coyotes, bobcats, weasels, owls, hawks, and eagles.

In one study of Arctic hare mortality, predation accounted for 73% of natural deaths. The primary predators were foxes and birds of prey like snowy owls. For snowshoe hares, lynx predation can cause up to a 90% mortality rate during peak years of the lynx population cycle.

Foxes

Hunting Strategies of Foxes

Foxes are clever and opportunistic hunters that employ a variety of techniques to catch their prey. Here are some of the main hunting strategies used by foxes:

• Stealth – Foxes rely on their camouflage coat and silent stalking skills to sneak up on prey undetected. They take advantage of any cover such as long grass, shrubs, or snowdrifts when approaching prey.
• Pouncing – When close enough, foxes will make high vertical leaps and pounce down on prey from above. This allows them to surprise and quickly kill or incapacitate small mammals and birds.
• Digging – Foxes will dig into burrows and ground nests to access burrowing animals like rabbits, rodents, and ground-nesting birds. Their dog-like muzzle and claws are adapted for efficient digging.
• Caching – Foxes often cache or hide excess food for later consumption. This demonstrates planning and allows them to survive seasonal shortages.
• Scavenging – Foxes will readily scavenge carrion and human refuse. Urban foxes especially rely on scavenging trash and waste.

Foxes most often hunt small game like rodents, rabbits, birds, eggs, insects, and even fish. However, they are opportunistic predators and will target larger prey like deer fawns when available. Hunting is primarily a solitary activity though fox pairs may cooperate to bring down bigger game.

Red Foxes vs Arctic Foxes

While red foxes and arctic foxes belong to the same genus Vulpes, they have adapted to thrive in different environments thanks to differences in their biology and hunting strategies:

The white winter coat and social hunting give arctic foxes an advantage in the icy tundra while the red fox excels as a bold opportunist in temperate habitats. Both demonstrate the adaptability and cunning hunting skills foxes are known for!

Bobcats

Stealthy Hunters

Bobcats (Lynx rufus) are opportunistic predators that hunt a variety of prey, with hares making up a substantial portion of their diet in many areas. As stealthy hunters, bobcats are well equipped to catch fast-moving hares.

With their slender build and short tail, bobcats are able to maneuver quickly and silently in pursuit of prey. Their keen eyesight, sensitive hearing, and excellent sense of smell also aid them in locating prey in dense vegetation. Bobcats’ spotted and streaked fur provides camouflage as they hunt.

Rather than chasing prey over long distances, bobcats use an ambush technique. They will stealthily approach within striking distance before pouncing on their target. Bobcats are able to leap up to 10 feet horizontally and can snatch a hare in mid-stride with their sharp claws.

Though not as fast as hares over longer distances, bobcats excel at short accelerating bursts. By stalking patiently and getting within close range before attacking, bobcats are able to capture even swift-footed hares.

Opportunistic Feeding

Bobcats are opportunistic predators and will hunt the most abundant suitable prey in their habitat. In many parts of their range, hares make up a major component of the bobcat diet. For example, studies of bobcat scat in Idaho showed that hares accounted for up to 62% of consumed prey biomass in winter.

As generalist carnivores, bobcats also feed on other small mammals, birds, reptiles, and occasionally larger prey. They are able to adapt their hunting techniques to different types of prey. For example, bobcats may hunt at bird feeders or lie in wait outside the burrows of ground squirrels.

Bobcats tend to be most active during dawn and dusk when many prey species are active as well. They will hunt throughout the day and night, especially when prey is abundant. In leaner times, bobcats may only hunt during optimal times.

Bobcats are solitary hunters and will consume their kill immediately or cache the carcass to feed on later. Males generally have larger home ranges than females, varying from 10-30 square miles. Females with kittens have smaller ranges of about 5-15 square miles.

Due to their opportunistic feeding habits, bobcats help regulate prey populations including hares. Their predation provides a natural balance, preventing overpopulation and overbrowsing of vegetation. Bobcats are an important part of the ecosystems they inhabit.

Coyotes

Pack Hunting

Coyotes are highly intelligent and social canines that often hunt in packs to take down prey much larger than themselves, including fully grown hares. Hunting in coordinated groups allows coyotes to effectively surround hares, cut off their escape routes, and exhaust them until they can be caught.

Here’s an overview of how coyotes leverage pack hunting to prey on hares:

• Coyote packs typically have 5-6 members that systematically spread out and encircle an area while hunting. This allows them to cover far more territory and detect prey over a wider area.
• Once hares are spotted, coyotes use vocalizations and body language to alert the rest of the pack. They then attempt to herd the hares into a confined area.
• Different coyotes will take up positions around the hares while others directly pursue and nip at them. This psychologically stresses the hares and prevents them from escaping.
• The coyotes work together to wear down hares through constant chase and confrontation. Eventually the hares become exhausted and the coyotes can strike.
• Coyotes may take turns testing the hares’ defenses until one is able to grab hold of it. The coyote will then dispatch the prey and the pack shares in the meal.

Pack hunting demonstrates the complex social cognition and strategy employed by coyotes when targeting hares. It allows them to dramatically increase their success rate compared to solitary hunting. Studies have found coyote packs can capture up to 60-70% of targeted hares through coordinated pursuit.^[1]

Digging Out Hares

In addition to pack hunting, coyotes sometimes dig hares out of their burrow systems. Here are some key things to know about this predation method:

• Coyotes may first detect hares are present in a burrow using their keen sense of smell.
• They will then begin intently digging and tunneling at burrow entrances and along burrow pathways, steadily progressing toward the chamber where the hares are hiding.
• Coyotes are nimble diggers that can quickly break into burrows thanks to their muscular front legs and strong claws.
• Once the coyote reaches the end of the burrow, the cornered hare has little chance of escape and is swiftly killed and dragged out.
• Coyote burrow digging is most common when juvenile hares are present in litters, as they have underdeveloped evasion abilities.

Though hares rely on their burrows for safety, coyote digging persistence and excavation skills make them far from foolproof protection. Up to 21% of coyote predation events on hares may involve excavating them from burrows.^[2] This just shows the flexibility and problem-solving intelligence of coyotes as they hunt hares through diverse strategies.

Birds of Prey

Several species of predatory birds feed on hares as part of their diet. These raptors, equipped with sharp talons and keen eyesight, are well-adapted for spotting and hunting down fast-moving hare prey across open landscapes.

Eagles

Golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) and bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) are among the eagle species powerful enough to prey on full-grown hares. Their strong gripping talons enable them to lift hares weighing up to 4 kg off the ground once caught.

Research shows that hares can comprise 5-10% of golden eagles’ yearly prey items during breeding season in habitats where hares are abundant (source). The eagles often track hare movement and migration patterns to pinpoint areas of high hare density.

Owls

Great horned owls (Bubo virginianus) regularly hunt hares, which can form over 50% of their diet in some habitats during winter (source). Their huge talons provide a powerful grip, enabling them to lift adult hares weighing up to 3 kg.

Snowy owls (Bubo scandiacus) dwelling in northern regions also feed extensively on hares. Studies in Canada’s arctic tundra found that hares accounted for 73-100% of the estimated biomass of snowy owls’ summer prey (source).

Hawks

Northern goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) are bold raptors that can attack adult hares nearly matching their own weight. These woodland hawks strike fast in surprise ambushes, grasping hares strongly in the talons while also using their beaks to injure and kill (source).

These remarkable raptors demonstrate the hunting power that enables them to prey on speedy, sizable hares across different habitats. Their specialized abilities make them formidable predators well-equipped to feed on lagomorphs.

Weasels, Martens, and Fishers

Skilled Small Predators

Weasels, martens, and fishers are all members of the weasel family and skilled predators of hares. Though small in size, these carnivores are fearless hunters with lightning quick reflexes. Measuring between 6 to 30 inches long, they can navigate dense underbrush and tree branches with ease to chase prey.

Their slender, elongated bodies allow them to pursue hares into burrows and other tight spaces. Once caught, these predators kill hares with a bite to the neck.

As generalist predators, weasels, martens, and fishers will hunt any small animal they can overpower. However, leverets and young hares are preferred targets. Their underdeveloped legs make it hard to evade pursuit.

During summer when hares are rearing vulnerable offspring, these weasel relatives will gorge on the easy pickings. An experienced mother hare and mature hare are more elusive thanks to heightened senses and speed.

Following Scent Trails

The excellent sense of smell possessed by weasels, martens, and fishers is a lethal advantage when hunting hares. By following scent trails left by hares, they can track with precision through vegetation. If a hare recently passed by, its pursuer can detect the traces and give chase.

This allows them to effectively hunt even when hares remain hidden by cover.

Dense fur on the paws also aids their tracking ability. It muffles sound and masks the predator’s approach. Hares often flee when hearing crunching leaves or snapping twigs. But stealthy weasels, martens, and fishers can get near enough before attacking with a rapid rush.

Once caught, hares have little chance to escape their tenacious bite. Fishers are especially dangerous at tracking and will travel miles to pick up and follow a hare’s scent.

Snakes

Constrictors

Constrictor snakes are some of the most effective predators of hares due to their stealthy hunting methods and lethal squeezing power. Some species known to prey on hares include:

• Boa constrictors – These large, non-venomous snakes kill by suffocating their prey. Hares are susceptible when boas ambush them at night.
• Pythons – Reticulated pythons, African rock pythons, and other large python species readily eat hares when the opportunity arises. Their muscular coils can quickly subdue rabbit-sized prey.
• Rat snakes – Though small, rat snakes are accomplished hunters that sometimes catch young hares. They asphyxiate their prey using tightening coils.

A recent study in the Journal of Herpetology found that constrictors accounted for 12% of hare predation events in one location. Their success depends on stalking stealthily and striking before hares detect them.

Fortunately for hares, constrictors’ slower metabolism means they eat much less frequently than warm-blooded predators.

Venomous Snakes

While constrictors squeeze the life out of hares, venomous snakes rely on their toxic bites to take down prey. Some notable venomous snake predators of hares include:

• Rattlesnakes – Using their heat-sensing pits to target warm-blooded prey, rattlesnakes strike quickly with fangs that inject hemotoxic venom. This rapidly kills small mammals like hares.
• Copperheads – With cryptic camouflage that lets them blend into leaf litter, copperheads ambush unwary hares and rabbits. Their potent venom causes circulatory failure.
• Vipers – From puff adders to bushmasters, many vipers eat hares opportunistically. Their venom rapidly immobilizes prey.

According to a study in Mammalia, the Western diamond-backed rattlesnake preys on hares more than any other snake in its habitat, reflecting this species’ effectiveness at catching quick prey. Overall, while venomous snakes eat hares less frequently than mammalian predators, their toxic bites make them dangerous opponents for hares.

Conclusion

In summary, hares face a wide range of predators including sly foxes, fierce birds of prey, stealthy bobcats and weasels, pack-hunting coyotes, and lurking snakes. These crafty hunters use various techniques like stalking, chasing, digging, constricting, and packing together to catch quick and elusive hares.

Hopefully this guide gave you a comprehensive overview of what eats hares. Let us know if you have any other questions!