Hares

The introduced European Brown Hare (Lepus capensis) is not regarded as a major pest of agriculture and the environment. However, in localised areas it can cause damage by eating crops, destroying seedlings and gnawing the bark off trees and vines in orchards, plantations and vineyards. Shooting is the principal method of control, as hares are not susceptible to myxomatosis or rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV1), nor do they readily take poison baits. Other control methods used include exclusion fencing, use of repellents and trapping.

Hare. Image by Peter Tremain