Corsican hare

Scientific name: Lepus corsicanus

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Lepus corsicanus is smaller and darker than the brown hare, with reddish-brown to greyish-brown fur and a distinctive dark stripe down the midline of the back. Ears are proportionally long; the tail is dark above and white below. Females are slightly larger than males.

Size and weight

Weight 1.5–2.2 kg; body length 40–46 cm. Females typically 100–150 g heavier than males.

Habitat

Corsican hares inhabit open and semi-open terrain, preferring maquis scrubland, grasslands, and rocky slopes across Corsica. They favour altitudes from sea level to around 2,000 m, avoiding dense forest but using scattered shrub cover.

Distribution

Endemic to Corsica, found across the island from lowlands to mountain plateaux. Populations are concentrated in central and eastern regions with suitable open habitat.

Diet

Grazes on grasses, clover, and herbaceous plants; in winter shifts to woody browse, bark, and available green vegetation.

Behaviour

Primarily crepuscular and nocturnal, resting in shallow forms during daylight in dense cover. Generally solitary or in loose pairs; males are territorial during breeding season and may be seen in daylight during rut.

Hunting tips

Look for tracks in soft ground and well-defined paths through maquis; droppings are small, pellet-like, and often clustered near feeding areas. Hunt during dawn and dusk when hares are active on open slopes; approach into wind across broken terrain. Use low stalking posture, pause frequently to scan ahead, and listen for movement through scrub; flush from resting spots by walking deliberately through likely cover.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 1 country in Huntify.

Italy

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.