The taxonomy of Lepus europaeus is still under debate. The clear distinction to other taxa is difficult due to sympatric occurrences with other Lepus species. The European Hare was formerly included in the Cape Hare (L. capensis) based on a cline in morphological characters (mainly size) from north-eastern Africa eastwards across the northern Arabian peninsula, the Middle East and northwards through Israel to Turkey (Petter 1961). A reanalysis showed a discontinuity between smaller “capensis” and larger “europaeus” running from the eastern Mediterranean coast through Iran (Ben Slimen et al. 2008a). A study of the nuclear gene pool of the Cape Hare, the European Hare and the North African Hare, indicated that the North African Hare as well as the European Hare belong to the Cape Hare (Ben Slimen et al. 2005). However, a study of the mt DNA of these three groups indicated a significant degree of divergence supporting species-specific designation (Ben Slimen et al. 2008a, 2008b). These studies show that genetic differentiation between the Cape Hare and the European Hare might be attributed to geographic distance rather than divergence. Until conclusive evidence of a single species complex is available in order to support a change in the taxonomic status of the European Hare, it remains a true species (Schai-Braun and Hackländer 2016, Hackländer and Schai-Braun 2018).

There are 16 subspecies: Lepus europaeus caspicus, L. e. connori, L. e. creticus, L. e. cyprius, L. e. cyrensis, L. e. europaeus, L. e. hybridus, L. e. judeae, L. e. karpathorum, L. e. medius, L. e. occidentalis, L. e. parnassius, L. e. ponticus, L. e. rhodius, L. e. syriacus, and L. e. transsylvanicus (Hoffmann and Smith 2005). It is felt that there is considerable variability in many of these forms and that distinctions between subspecies may be arbitrary as they are mostly based on size and colour. Molecular phylogenetic studies in Spain revealed that the Cantabric population has singular mt DNA compared to other European populations (Palacios et al. 2004).

A review of the taxonomy of this species is necessary (Schai-Braun and Hackländer 2016, Hackländer and Schai-Braun 2018).

European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)
EU 27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

This species has a wide and increasing range. Hunting bag data from the last decades show a stabilization at lower population levels following declines in the previous century. For these reasons, it is evaluated as Least Concern for both Europe and for the EU27 Member States.

Lepus europaeus has a large global range that extends in Europe from western Europe to the Urals in European Russia. The species is widely distributed throughout Europe with the exception of most of the Iberian Peninsula, northern Fennoscandia, and northern parts of European Russia. European Hares have been introduced to many European islands including several British Isles and Ireland (where it is considered an invasive alien species; Caravaggi et al. 2017) and numerous ones in the Mediterranean Sea (e.g., Crete, Rhodes, Cyprus, and Corsica). The distribution range in Europe is expanding. Whereas land use change, namely deforestation and increase of arable land, was the main driver since the beginning of the twentieth century, global warming is an additional factor fostering the range expansion of the European Hare. In line with that, European Hare range expansion toward higher altitude has been reported for the Alps (Hackländer 2022).

Beyond the European region, the natural range of the species extends through Russia to western Siberia, and south to south-western Asia (Iran). As a game species, the European Hare has been widely introduced to countries across the globe (Flux and Angermann 1990), including eastern Australia, New Zealand, South America, Canada, and the United States (Great Lakes Area), as well as numerous islands in the Indian and Atlantic Ocean (Hackländer and Schai-Braun 2018).

Following a decline in the past century, the population trend currently is stable, though at a comparably lower level. The density of hares in steppe environments is low, approximately two hares per 100 ha. Agricultural activity, especially on fertile, but dry, soil types, lead to higher densities. Population density might reach up to 339 hares per 100 ha in optimal conditions, as was observed on a Danish island without agriculture, hunting, or terrestrial predators. Habitat quality influences fecundity, (juvenile) survival, thus yearly recruitment and population density. Across the distribution range, spring densities of 1 to 156 hares per 100 ha are described (reviewed in Averianov et al. 2003). As recruitment might double spring numbers, autumn densities can reach up to 275 hares per 100 ha (Hackländer 2022).

Originally dwelling in steppe habitats, forest steppes, and open areas in the forest zone, Lepus europaeus followed humans on their range expansion during the Neolithic revolution from southeastern Europe north- and westward, where the settlers opened the landscape for agriculture. European Hares can now be found predominantly in arable and pastural landscapes, but also in open woodland, moorland, heathland, or salt marshes. Apart from that, they also inhabit parks and airfields. L. europaeus live from sea level up to 2,800 m above sea. Deep and loose snow cover, pastures with livestock, and the proximity of roads are avoided. However, hares tolerate anthropogenic structures and can be found in cities, too (Hackländer 2022).

The superfactor leading to declining European Hare densities is the intensification of agriculture. While the European Hare benefitted from extensive agriculture in the past, it is now negatively affected by the intensive use of the cultivated land (Hackländer 2022). Urbanisation, as well as agricultural and forestry pollution, have also impacted the species and its habitats.

The European Hare is the most important small game species across Europe, despite past population declines (Hackländer 2022). Captive breeding and release has been implemented in some countries (Misiorowska and Wasilewski 2012), for both population recovery purposes and for sport hunting.

The European Hare’s Red List status has recently been confirmed as Least Concern at the global scale (Hackländer and Schai-Braun 2018). It is widespread and abundant across its geographic range. However, especially European subpopulations of Lepus europaeus declined in the twentieth century. Note, that despite numerous studies claiming that the decline started in the 1960s, there is evidence from long-term hunting bag statistics that the decline started some decades earlier, namely with the beginning of the agricultural industrialization (early twentieth century).

The European Hare is listed under Appendix III of the Bern Convention in Europe (as “Lepus capensis (europaeus)”). Despite that, in most European countries, densities of European Hares are above the density known from steppe habitats where the species came from prior to their range expansion. In line with this, lowered densities might not lead to an extinction of the species. Apart from that, there is increasing concern regarding the status of native local subpopulations of this species as restockings for hunting purposes took and take place in several countries including Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, and Spain (Hackländer 2022).

The taxonomy of Lepus europaeus is still under debate with respect to the Cape Hare (L. capensis) and a review of the taxonomy of this species is necessary (Schai-Braun and Hackländer 2016, Hackländer and Schai-Braun 2018).