Mad March hares

European brown hares are normally timid animals, but can be seen to transform in spring, when they chase other hares and ‘box’ with one another. These frenzies are often thought to be competitions between males for dominance during the mating season, but frequently females also beat the males with their paws to reject their passionate advances. This behaviour seems to be the origin of the phrase ‘Mad as a March Hare‘

European brown hares boxing in a spring field in Norfolk, England (age fotostock/Robert Harding)

European brown hare, Bavaria, Germany (age fotostock/Robert Harding)

Two European hares boxing in Elmley Marshes RSPB Reserve, Isle of Sheppey, Kent, England (imageBROKER/Robert Harding)

More elusive and swifter than the humble rabbit, hares have strong hind legs to be able to outrun their predators, moving at speeds of up to 56 km/h or 35 mph (imageBROKER/Robert Harding)

Hare in a field in Germany (age fotostock/Robert Harding)

See more photos of hares here