Nocturnal Activity

[Over The Hill]

Last night it at about 11pm I noticed something in the field our kitchen looks out onto. There was snow on the ground and bright moonlight.
It was five hares forraging in the rapeseed plants. They were there about 30 minutes and then all went.

We see hares now and again in the field in the day. I assumed they were feeding at this time due to the snow or something but looking checking further I discovered hares were in fact nocturnal and usually feed at night.

I have never seen a hare at night ever before so was surprised at this. Is it just me?

 

[laurence]

a lot of animals are nocturnal, to an extent. i think it's a human assumption that everything sleeps when it is dark, but a lot of animals use darkness to feed, move, etc. doing bat surveys has shown me how active most wildlife is when the sun goes down.

many birds migrate at night and the capture of certain birds by raptors pointed the way to determining that Peregrines (amongst others) hunt at night.

rabbits are nocturnal, so i see no reason why hares wouldn't be, especially in bright moonlight. our eyes are pretty poor, by most animal standards, so there will be more than enough light.

must have been a wonderful sight... i am very jealous.

 

[Oxo]

Hare tonight gone tomorrow.

 

[biggs682]

Hare tonight gone tomorrow.

hare hare