The European hare, or brown hare (Lepus europaeus), is famously associated with the phrase “mad as a March hare,” a saying that stems directly from the species’ peculiar seasonal behavior observed in open fields. During the spring breeding season, these usually solitary animals engage in frantic chases and dramatic physical confrontations that resemble a boxing match. The true biological reason for this spectacle is often misunderstood, but it is deeply rooted in the complex dynamics of mate selection and reproductive strategy.
What Does Hare Boxing Look Like
The boxing behavior is a striking visual event, typically witnessed during the hares’ primary breeding season, which often peaks in March and April. The spectacle begins with a high-speed chase, where one hare pursues another across open fields. The pursued hare, usually the female, abruptly stops, turns, and rises up on her powerful hind legs to face her suitor.
In this upright stance, the two animals engage in a rapid, flailing exchange of blows, using their front paws to strike at each other’s heads and shoulders. The physical confrontation lasts for a period before one or both animals break off, often resuming the chase or separating entirely. This intense, close-quarters combat is the origin of the term “boxing.”
The Primary Function: Female Mate Selection
Contrary to the common assumption that the boxing is a fight between two rival males, scientific observation shows that the vast majority of these encounters are initiated by a female hare (doe) fending off an overly persistent male (buck). The female is often not yet ready to mate, or she may be testing the quality of the pursuing male. The male’s persistence, which includes long, exhausting chases, is met with the female’s aggressive physical rejection.
This behavior serves as a rigorous fitness test for the male suitor. A female hare can become pregnant with her next litter while still pregnant with the current one, a reproductive strategy known as superfetation, making mate quality a high-stakes decision. By forcing the male into a prolonged chase and a physical confrontation, the female assesses his strength, stamina, and commitment.
Only a male robust enough to endure the exhausting pursuit and the physical blows of the boxing match is deemed fit to pass on strong genes to her offspring. If the male passes this test of endurance and strength, the female will eventually allow copulation. This sequence demonstrates that the boxing is a form of female mate choice, where the doe actively manages who she mates with.
Aggressive Behavior and Defense
While female mate selection drives most of the spectacular spring boxing, the behavior can also occur in other, less frequent contexts involving true aggression. Male hares will occasionally engage in boxing matches with each other, though these encounters are typically less prolonged than the female-initiated ones. These male-on-male fights are usually territorial disputes or contests to establish a dominance hierarchy, particularly when multiple males are competing for access to a receptive female.
This male-male boxing usually ends quickly once a clear dominant or submissive posture is established, with the loser retreating from the area. Hares may also use a similar striking motion as a general defensive action against perceived threats.