The rabbits and hares are the 2 animals that look similar if you just look at them at the first glance you will not be able to spot such much difference between the two. Also, both of the species are the same but still, there are some differences between them that need to be known. The more carefully you will look at two of them; you will be easily able to spot the difference between them.
The rabbits and hares are unique in their own way which is why you need to know about them in a better way so that you do not confuse them with each other. In this guide, we will discuss the topic and that is how to tell the difference between hares and rabbits so that you can easily identify them and not face any issues with them.
The more you will know both of them the better knowledge you will have about them and this will provide you with better knowledge and you will be able to identify them with full ease.
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How to tell the difference between hares and rabbits?
There are various differences between the two that anyone would not be able to recognize in the beginning but with time they will be able to understand it and also you will know the difference between the two and some of the differences between the hares and the rabbits are listed as below:-
1. Size
The hare is larger than rabbits and this is one thing that you can physically identify hare and a rabbit and easily differentiate between the two on the basis of their size.
2. Gestation Period
There is even a difference in the Gestation period of the two, in the case of a hare, it is 42 days, while in the case of the rabbit it is around 27 to 33 days. From this, you will know that the gestation period is more in the hares as compared to the rabbits.
3. Identification at the time of birth
By looking at the rabbit and the hare at the time of birth you will be able to know the difference between the two just by looking at them. Hare are fully developed when they are born and they have fully developed fur on their body and their eyes are also open.
When you consider the case of the rabbit there is no fur on their body and also their eyes are closed. So this is an easy way to differentiate between them if you will have a glance at them at their time of birth.
4. Protection from predators
The hare and the rabbits have different defense mechanisms when they have to protect themselves from predators. In the case of the hare, they will run very fast when they realize that there are predators around them as they are fast runners.
Also, you will notice that they will run as fast as possible until they are away from the sight of the predators. The rabbits will try to hide first from their predators and then run away; this is how different they behave when they have to protect themselves from their predators.
5. Speed
On the basis of speed, you can differentiate between the two, and as discussed earlier that the hare is fast at running especially when compared to the rabbits. The hare will run very fast when compared to the rabbits and by looking at their speed you can easily know which one is the hare and which is the rabbit.
6. Ears and feet
When you will carefully notice the two and compare them with each other you will clearly find an easy way to know the difference between the two and that is you will know that the rabbits have smaller ears and feet when it is compared to the hare. So if both of them are kept together you can easily identify the two of them and without any doubt, you can easily tell from their ears and feet that the one with smaller ears and feet is a rabbit.
7. Hind legs
The other difference between the two is the difference between their hind legs the hare have longer hind legs when compared to the rabbits and also the hare even have stronger hind legs which are why they are fast runners and they will not face any issue while they will be running because their hind legs are longer and stronger and different from the rabbits.
8. Pets
The hare is not kept as a pet, while if you notice that rabbit is one of the most popular pets that you will find in the market because of their nature that is easy to control and most importantly they are very cute to look at. The rabbits are domesticated but hares are not domesticated as they are wild animals that are not apt for domestication.
9. Natural habitat
The natural habitat of the rabbits is mostly under the ground they are found under the ground in their burrows or somewhere they can protect themselves from their predators or they can hide. On the other hand, you will notice that the hares have their nests on the ground they will run on the ground and not live or hide under the ground which is how you can understand from their natural habitat what is the difference between the two of them.
10. Food choices
The hare eats food that is hard and not so easy to chew like the bark, buds, twigs, and shoots on the other hand if you will notice a rabbit they will prefer food that is soft to chew and easy to digest and they do not have to put much effort in chewing it which is why the rabbits eat grass, vegetables or soft stems. This is the reason the rabbits are easily domesticated as they are easy and will not be much of a mess for their owners.
11. Controlling and hunting
When it comes to controlling and hunting it is always very easy to control and hunt a rabbit when we compare to the hare because they are not much active as the hare which is why you can easily control them and the hunters can easily hunt them down. While in the case of a hare this is not the case you will notice that the hare is quite tough to hunt down because they are very active and also they are fast at running.
These are some of the common differences that you will find between the two and also the rabbits and the hares are amazing in their own way. They both are similar yet different. The more you will know them the more you will be able to understand them and also know how special and unique they are in their own way and that is what makes them beautiful creatures of nature.
Final thoughts:
The hares and rabbits both of them are popular in their own way which is why you will be able to understand them in a better way. The people who want to keep a rabbit as a pet should know what the difference between the two is so that they do not have any confusion and enjoy their time with their pet.
Hare is a wild animal that is not domesticated because they are not so easy to control and even hunt which is why you will see a rabbit usually not a hare because they are in the wild and common people are not able to see them in their day to day life or you can say that a commonly available or visible animal is a rabbit and not a hare.
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