March Hares

Have you heard of the saying "as mad as a March Hare"? Do you know where it comes from?

Well, hares are usually solitary animals, but round about March time you can see hares standing on their hind legs and literally 'boxing' with their front paws. Because of these antics, people have said that they are mad, but only at this time of the year.

And, don't forget, there was a March Hare in the book "Alice In Wonderland", but it seemed that everyone there was a little bit "mad"!

The brown hare is the one which you are most likely to see in the countryside - they can usually be spotted in grassy fields. They are easily mistaken for rabbits, of which there are loads living near the bears, but hares are bigger, with longer ears with black tips.

And they seem to run, rather than hop. It is said that they can reach speeds of up to 40 miles an hour! That's really fast! Look for them first thing in the morning or early evening.