BlueGnu - Explore South Africa's many tourist attractions
Scrub Hare
Afrikaans name: Kolhaas
A Scrub Hare shows off its large ears
Photo © Steven Herbert
Lepus saxatilis
Interesting facts about Scrub Hares
The Scrub Hare has a wide distribution in South Africa. It is the most likely species of 'rabbit' that you will see.
The Scrub Hare can be found in a wide variety of habitats including grasslands, savanna and bushveld.
This animal is nocturnal and is not often encountered during the day, although it will sometimes venture out just before dusk or just after dawn. It can often be seen on roads at night with the unfortunate result that many are run over by cars.
At night it emerges to feed. Its diet is pretty much restricted to grass.
Scrub Hares are preyed on by many predators including humans, jackals, Caracal and larger birds of prey. With a weight of around 3 kg they provide a nice little snack for a hungry predator.
Females give birth to 1 to 3 young in a litter and she may have up to 4 litters in a year. This normally happens during the summer but may occur all year round.
References and further reading
Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 49Chris and Tilde Stuart's Field Guide to the Mammals of Southern Africa - Author: Chris and Tilde Stuart - Year Published: 1988 - Page: 82
Field Guide to the Mammals of the Kruger National Park - Author: U. de V. Pienaar et al. - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 160
Land Mammals of Southern Africa - A field guide - Author: Reay HN Smithers - Year Published: 1986 - Page: 50
Mammals of Southern Africa - Author: Burger Cillier - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 159
Mammals of the Kruger and other National Parks - Author: The National Parks Board - Year Published: 1980 - Page: 150
Signs of the Wild - Author: Clive Walker - Year Published: 1986 - Page: 30