Black or Very Dark Brown Irish Hares

[cúagusgiorraí 57]

I was out today with the dogs and way down the road I see a dark, nearly black, animal coming toward us. I quickly restrained the dogs because I thought it was a black cocker spaniel, (my dogs dont particularly like spaniels), but as it came closer, I saw it wasnt a dog, I thought, Cat?, but it was the size of a small to medium dog. Then it sat up and its ears stood high. I knew straight away this was a hare. The fella was so dark brown that it appeared black in the light. It was very big as well. It calmy sprinted back down the road and into a nearby field. I have never seen a hare this colour before, they have always been light red brown.

 

Has any of ye seen hares like this?

 

I saw another hare the other day that was massive! Where do they come from, I dont know! It must have been around 20-25 lbs estimating by sight.

 

[Neil Cooney. 1]

I'd like to have seen that, never seen or heard of a melanistic hare. If you went back you'd probably get a photo.

Years ago localised hare populations used to be slightly different in each area.

For instance there used to be a population of yellow hares along the coast of North Co. Dublin.

I know of a place in Meath where theres a few white hares every Winter.

On our preserves the farmer wont let us introduce hares and as a result his hares are an unusual brown colour.

A few years ago the C.C.s used to tag the hares ears so they went back to the place they were caught but Duchas has stopped that so now you just put the same amount back, not nessecarily the same hares. As a result IMO blood and breeding has been well mixed up.

I'd love to see a picture of that hare you seen.

[cúagusgiorraí 57]

Thanks Neil, very informative as usual

 

Well I will be down that way, more often so if I see him, I will take a film or picture.

This land around me is hopping with hares. I hope I find the same fella again.