Scrub Hare Facts

The scrub hare is a large member of the Leporidae family that belongs to the Lepus, or hare genus. It is native to Africa where it is considered a pest to farmers and is sometimes hunted for food and occasionally for its fur. The animal has a large stable population in the wild and is not considered in any way threatened.

  1. Appearance

    • The scrub hare is gray in color with black flecks throughout its fur, giving a grizzled appearance. Its stomach and chest fur is white in coloration. The hare grows to more than 2 feet in length and can weigh almost 10 pounds. It has the typical shape associated with hares, including large ears, a slender body, powerful back limbs and long, slender front legs. The hares found in the northern part of the species' range tend to be larger than those farther south.

    Range and Habitat

    • The scrub hare is most prevalent in South Africa but can be found as far northwest as Mauritania. It is also found as far to the northeast as Ethiopia. The species tends to favor high elevations between 4,000 and 6,000 feet above sea level. It lives in savanna woodlands and may graze at night in open grassy or agricultural areas. It is not found in the driest desert areas.

    Diet and Predators

    • The hare feeds mainly on green grasses that grow readily during the wet season. During the dry season it will feed on leaves, stems and rhizomes of certain more hardy grasses. In times of low foliage, the bark from shrubs supplements the animal's diet. It also feeds upon agricultural crops when the opportunity arises. Living where it does, the hare has plenty of potential large predators, but it is mainly hunted by the side-striped jackal.

    Life Cycle

    • The scrub hare is a solitary animal by nature, meeting up only to mate. Breeding can take place year-round but peaks from September to February. Females can produce multiple litters throughout the year and may be able to breed every three months or so. Pregnancies last 35 to 42 days, and litter size ranges from one to three babies. The young are born well formed with hair and open eyes. After a few days the young can move around on their own and look after themselves. The mother feeds them milk once a night until they are weaned.