Lepus europaeus; the Brown Hare (Skyper)
Brown hares are thought to have been introduced to the UK by the Romans, unlike their native but rarer counterpart the mountain hare (Lepus timidus). These creatures, unlike rabbits, do not live underground in warrens but dig shallow 'scrapes' to rest in overnight. The young, known as leverets, will remain in these scrapes when approached, hoping not to be seen as a defense mechanism against predators (such as the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the stoat (Mustela erminea)). It is precisely for this reason that many leverets are taken to wildlife sanctuaries by people who mistakenly believe the leveret has been abandoned by its parents. According to the national biodiversity action plan for this species there is a mere 20% of the 1880 population remaining in the UK, and it is present on the Cheshire equivalent plan as a priority species of conservation. A survey undertaken in 2000 indicated the county population was 6,133.