Scrub Hare
Scrub Hare spoor is identified like this: distinctive pattern with two small front feet landing one behind the other, and two large hind feet landing side-by-side in front. Scrub hares are strictly nocturnal, spending their days resting in a shallow depression in the ground called a 'form' to stay hidden from predators.
Spoor Signature
Scrub Hare
"Distinctive pattern with two small front feet landing one behind the other, and two large hind feet landing side-by-side in front."
Spoor Profile
| Species | Scrub Hare |
|---|---|
| Group | Small Mammals |
| Track signature | Distinctive pattern with two small front feet landing one behind the other, and two large hind feet landing side-by-side in front. |
| Activity pattern | Small mammal tracks are subtle and short-lived. Fine river sand and the smoothed edges of gravel roads hold the clearest imprints. |
Field Wisdom: Scrub Hare
Knowing the animal makes reading its spoor far easier. These field notes explain the behaviour behind the tracks you find.
- 1
Scrub hares are strictly nocturnal, spending their days resting in a shallow depression in the ground called a 'form' to stay hidden from predators.
- 2
Unlike rabbits, scrub hares are born fully furred and with their eyes open, allowing them to remain mobile and alert from the moment of birth.
- 3
They are masters of evasion, relying on explosive bursts of speed reaching up to 70 kilometers per hour and erratic zig-zagging to escape predators like leopards and eagles.
- 4
To avoid detection, they remain perfectly motionless when threatened, using their mottled, sandy-brown coat to blend seamlessly into the dry grasses and scrub of the bushveld.
Identification Protocol
- 1
Analyze the substrate. Soft river sand near Skukuza will provide deep, clear imprints, while hard northern mopaneveld soil requires looking for shallow "ticks" or claw marks.
- 2
Look for the stride length. A walking Scrub Hare will leave a regular, repeating pattern. Changes in gait often signal proximity to water or recent predator interaction.
Compare Similar Spoor
Spoor that trackers routinely compare against Scrub Hare prints in the field: