Has the Irish hare been affected by the weather?

[PoshPikey 560]

If they have been wiped out once - what makes you think they will survive if you reintroduce them? is the land being farmed differently - is there less pressure than previously? Otherwise you could spend a lot of time and money moving them around and then they just perish?

[killbilly 17]

Seen more Hares about here in recent years - many in the woods as others have mentioned. The best areas for hares are places where they are protected like airports, golf courses etc.. Dublin AP is full of them whereas the Curragh has hardly any cos certain people hunt them out of season 24/7 with dogs which means no young make it. Sad cos theres good habitat for them there:(. Areas of intensive silage production also have few hares since high levels of herbicide use kill their food plants, which is probably the main reason they have declined in many places over the last few decades.

Edited August 1, 2012 by killbilly

[CoursingLad12 0]

im in ireland and all the hares are taking to the woods,, dunno why but i think it has alot to do with the breeding population of the hawks

[jigsaw 11,902]

i find the same.load in the small plantations and woodland.b*****ds to get out.