Scrub Hare

wildlife of Namibia

Introduction: Scrub hares (Lepus saxatilis) are so called for their association with the type of habitat preferred, that is scrub, where there is grass cover. They are common in agricultural areas, often concentrating in the vicinity of growing crops. They also occur in savannah woodland. They are nocturnal animals, emerging to feed at sundown, being more evident on warm rather than cold evenings and not moving at all in periods of rainfall.

They lie up in forms under bushes where there is also grass cover, with their ears folded back flat on to their shoulders with the head pulled into the shoulder. This helps them to blend into the environment affording them extra concealment.

Distribution: Scrub hare occur widely in Namibia except in the coastal regions of the Namib Desert.

Diet: They live on the leaves, stems and rhizomes (a thick underground stem that produces a new plant) and dry and green grass, with a preference for green grass.

Colouring: The upper parts of the body are grizzled greyish or buffy.

Breeding: Litters are small, from 1 to 3, with triplets more evident after a good rainy season. Young are born in forms, fully haired and with their eyes wide open and capable of moving around after birth.

Size: The scrub hare varies in size due to location but on average males are around 55cm long and with between 2kg and 3.2kg. Females are slightly larger and heavier.

Wildlife Namibia