Leveret

We found out why the hares have been hanging around in the sunflower field behind the house. We have seen them been running back and forth to our boundary. It has (by law now) been left wilder by the farmer so we have a 5 metre strip round the property that simply goes naturally wild (to protect us from the chemicals they use in weed/plant suppressant for the crop).  I have to mow/strim/remove the wild plants/weeds/grass next to the fence that work their way into our garden.  As I did so today (first dry day for ages), something moved in the hedgerow ahead of my mower.  It didn’t move far.  In fact, it moved into the path of the rotating blades. I stopped.  I turned the mower off and investigated. This little fellow(?) froze and tried to hide.  I was worried, but it let me pick it up, as it refused to run away.  Then I spotted the hidden tunnel entrances just outside our land. Clearly, the hares have been comfortable enough to use it as a breeding ground.  I carefully replaced the leveret (baby hare) where I found it and it sat there while I took the extra pic (see extra pic).  Then as I moved off, it ran into our garden and hid in the wood pile.  We are hoping that Mum & Dad will be back to collect it and take it home.  It didn’t seem too traumatised by the experience, but it is very very young and will not have left the care of its parents yet.