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Statistics back the Irish hare

Monday, 27 April 2009

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has strict criteria for defining a species as ‘endangered’ (Write Back, April 22).

A population must have declined by more than 70% over the last 10 years where the causes of the reduction are clearly understood, reversible and have ceased, or be more than 50% where the causes are not understood, irreversible and have not ceased.

Endangered populations generally number fewer than 2,500 mature individuals ranging over less than 5,000 sq km.

The term can only be applied to a species facing imminent extinction in the wild, or

at least a 20% probability of dying out within 20 years.

In common with many species, the Irish hare declined throughout the 20th century.

However, the most accurate estimate, made during 2007, suggested the total population of Ireland (81,638 sq km) was approximately 650,000 hares.

Consequently, the Irish hare is not ‘endangered’. Indeed, the mountain hare, of which the Irish hare is a sub-species, is listed by the IUCN in the category of Least Concern.

Dr Neil Reid

Queen’s University, Belfast

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Population estimates are conducted by sampling habitats across Northern Ireland representatively on an annual basis by spotlamping over 800km of minor roads.

Average estimates are given with a measurable degree of potential error i.e. minimum to maximum with the central figure being most likely. This allows annual changes in population to be detected and temporal trends to be extrapolated.

More details can be found on the Quercus website.

Posted by Dr. Neil Reid | 28.04.09, 12:06 GMT

Some years ago out walking with a cousin in Co Cavan I looked over a dense hedge into a broad meadow and saw about forty hare hopping and skipping. My cousin who incidentally had a shotgun carefully peeped over, and they had all disappeared.'They know me' he said.

Posted by Malachy McAnespie | 28.04.09, 10:36 GMT

Counting can be done scientifically (basically sampling which is pretty inexact) or by views of country people. On a recent visit to the west of Ireland I saw dozens of Hare over a wide area, and lovely it was too. More there than in Co. Down, but still quite common here, glad to say.

Posted by J Stanley | 27.04.09, 18:23 GMT