It's always a strange one returning to your real home after travelling for a while. There are so many mixed emotions. So when our resident hare family turned up with two babes it eased the transition. Irish Hares have lived in our couple of acres as long as we have been here. Since the land around us was cleared, this wild patch may be the only remaining cover they have for breeding.
They usually join us for breakfast. Their mother returns to feed them from time to time but otherwise they are left to their own devices and forage in and out of the undergrowth.
Leverets as these babies are called are put out to fend for themselves at a very young age. These two are tiny and vulnerable, nibbling at the odd bit of grass and gobbling up the more succulent patio plants.
You may think they look exactly like rabbits but check out the huge back feet.....these are the give away! As they scuttle and hop around now they are fairly uncoordinated, but they will grow to be much larger adults than an average rabbit, the lanky back legs ensure that.
You can see more photos in the Irish Hare Gallery here
