Editing European hare (section)

== Distribution and habitat ==
[[File:Feldhase, Lepus europaeus 3a.JPG|thumb|right|Hare running in open field|alt=Photograph of a running hare]]
The European hare is native to much of [[continental Europe]] and part of Asia. Its range extends from northern Spain to southern Scandinavia, eastern Europe, and northern parts of [[Western Asia|Western]] and [[Central Asia]]. It has been extending its range into [[Siberia]].<ref name=ChapmanIUCN/> It may have been introduced to [[Great Britain]] by the [[Roman Britain|Romans]] about 2000 years ago, based on a lack of archaeological evidence before that,<ref name="Corbet" /> although new radiocarbon dates suggest that it was introduced earlier, between 500-300BCE.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news-archive.exeter.ac.uk/featurednews/title_787590_en.html | title=University of Exeter }}</ref> It is not present in [[Ireland]], where the [[mountain hare]] is the only native hare species. Undocumented introductions probably occurred in some Mediterranean Islands.<ref name="Corbet">{{cite journal|author=Corbet, G. B.|year=1986|title=Relationships and origins of the European lagomorphs|journal=Mammal Review|volume=16|issue=3–4|pages=105–110|doi=10.1111/j.1365-2907.1986.tb00029.x|bibcode=1986MamRv..16..105C }}</ref> It has also been introduced, mostly as [[Game (food)|game animal]], to North America in [[Ontario]] and [[New York State]], and unsuccessfully in [[Pennsylvania]], [[Massachusetts]], and [[Connecticut]], the [[Southern Cone]] in [[Brazil]], [[Argentina]], [[Uruguay]], [[Paraguay]], [[Bolivia]], [[Chile]], [[Peru]] and the [[Falkland Islands]], [[Australia]], both islands of [[New Zealand]] and the south Pacific coast of Russia.<ref name=ChapmanIUCN/><ref name=Naughton/><ref>{{cite journal |author=Bonino, N. A. |author2=Cossios, D. |author3=Menegheti, J. |year=2010 |title=Dispersal of the European hare, ''Lepus europaeus'' in South America |journal=Folia Zoologica |volume=59 |issue=1 |pages=9–15 |url=http://www.ivb.cz/folia_zoologica/archive/59_9-15.pdf |access-date=2016-09-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917083159/http://www.ivb.cz/folia_zoologica/archive/59_9-15.pdf |archive-date=2016-09-17 |url-status=dead |doi=10.25225/fozo.v59.i1.a3.2010 |s2cid=4675498}}</ref>

The European hare primarily lives in open fields with scattered brush for shelter. It is very adaptable and thrives in mixed farmland.<ref name=ChapmanIUCN/> According to a study in the Czech Republic, the mean hare densities were highest at elevations below {{cvt|200|m}}, 40 to 60 days of annual snow cover, {{cvt|450|to|700|mm}} of annual precipitation, and a mean annual air temperature of around {{cvt|10|°C}}. With regards to climate, the European hare density was highest in "warm and dry districts with mild winters".<ref name=Pikula2004>{{cite journal |author1=Pikula, J. |author2=Beklová, M. |author3=Holešovská, Z. |author4=Treml, F. |year=2004 | title=Ecology of European brown hare and distribution of natural foci of Tularaemia in the Czech Republic |journal=Acta Veterinaria Brno |volume=73 |issue=2 |pages=267–273 |doi=10.2754/avb200473020267 |doi-access=free}}</ref> In Poland, the European hare is most abundant in areas with few forest edges, perhaps because foxes can use these for cover. It requires cover, such as hedges, ditches and permanent cover areas, because these habitats supply the varied diet it requires, and are found at lower densities in large open fields. Intensive cultivation of the land results in greater mortality of young hares.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Panek, M. |author2=Kamieniarz, R. |year=1999 |title=Relationships between density of brown hare ''Lepus europaeus'' and landscape structure in Poland in the years 1981–1995 |journal=Acta Theriologica |volume=44 |issue=1 |pages=67–75 |doi=10.4098/at.arch.99-7 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

In Great Britain, the European hare is seen most frequently on arable farms, especially those with [[crop rotation]] and [[fallow]] land, [[wheat]] and [[sugar beet]] crops. In mainly grass farms, its numbers increased with are improved pastures, some arable crops and patches of woodland. It is seen less frequently where foxes are abundant or where there are many [[common buzzard]]s. It also seems to be fewer in number in areas with high European rabbit populations,<ref name=Vaughan2003/> although there appears to be little interaction between the two species and no aggression.<ref name=Alves>{{cite book|author1=Alves, P.C. |author2=Ferrand, N. |author3=Hackländer, K. |title=Lagomorph Biology: Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9d8_AAAAQBAJ&pg=PA247 |year= 2007 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-3-540-72446-9 |page=247}}</ref> Although European hares are shot as game when plentiful, this is a self-limiting activity and is less likely to occur in localities where the species is scarce.<ref name=Vaughan2003>{{cite journal |author1=Vaughan, N. |author2=Lucas, E. |author3=Harris, S. |author4=White, P. C. L. |year=2003 |title=Habitat associations of European hares ''Lepus europaeus'' in England and Wales: Implications for farmland management |journal=Journal of Applied Ecology |volume=40 |issue=1 |pages=163–175 |jstor=827268 |doi=10.1046/j.1365-2664.2003.00784.x|doi-access=free |bibcode=2003JApEc..40..163V }}</ref>