What Is a Baby Hare Called?

Rabbits and hares are not the same; therefore, we do not call baby hares by the name of "bunnies." We will examine both what a baby hare is called as well as what the difference is between rabbits and hares.

The name for a baby hare is probably quite different than what you expect. We refer to baby hares as leverets.

In general, rabbits and hares are extremely different when it comes to childbearing and childrearing. We are going to look at both how hares and rabbits differ in life in general and how they differ in their rearing of children.

Differences in Baby Hares and Rabbits

Where They Are Born

When a hare gives birth, they will find an area on the grass or ground that has a flattened, shallow area in it. They have a nest of grass which is called a form. Inside of that area, they will give birth to their young.

When a rabbit is preparing to give birth, they will give birth in a burrow. Other types of this group known as leporids give birth in borrows underneath the ground.

Differences After Birth

When a hare is born, the creature has open eyes and is completely covered in fur. The mother takes care of them for only a short while before they begin to take care of themselves.

When rabbits are born, they are blind and hairless. Therefore, they cannot take care of themselves since they cannot see.

Hares usually only have their leverets between two and three times per year; however, rabbits constantly have babies constantly throughout the year, as you may know from many pop culture depictions of them.

Other Differences Between Hares and Rabbits

There are some other ways that you can distinguish between a hare and a rabbit including:

• Hares are significantly larger and heavier than rabbits.
• Hares have very large hind legs and hind feet. They are much better jumpers than rabbits. Therefore, when you see the image of one of these jumping critters, you are probably seeing a hare and not a rabbit.
• Hares change from a greyish brown color in the summer to a white color in the winter, but rabbits stay the same color all year round.
• Hares eat hard foods such as bark and small twigs, while rabbits tend toward softer feed like grass, stems, and vegetables.
• The differences in where they live reflect the differences in where their babies are born. Hares will generally stay above ground and run away from their enemies, but rabbits prefer to stay hidden underground for most of the time.
• Hares usually live alone. If they are with another hare, it is generally for mating purposes. In general, the hares are much most independent than rabbits are. Rabbits often live in large groups. 

As you can see, a lot of the qualities that make hares and rabbits different relate to the way the leverets are able to take care of themselves better than bunnies are. The leverets come from a line of strong animals which are ready to defend themselves and to live their lives as independent beings.