And quite a few years ago my folks reckoned they met a fellow at a swap meet who had European hares for sale. Well, there’s no hare in WA. It’s just a big fat mean tease. But wouldn’t it be nice for a WA bowhunter to be glassing some new country one morning, to spot a nice big bunny out for a stroll and to then be treated to that moment of discovery that something isn’t quite right with said bunny! With the thought that it ‘might’ be possible and fueled by fond memories of stalking a few different hares species on adventures here and there I googled “Hares in Western Australia”…

Published on the Dept of Agriculture WA website 31st March 2011:

“Communities in the Great Southern have been asked to report any sightings of hares to the Department of Agriculture and Food. Spokeswoman Marion Massam said a photograph was handed to the department late last year of a hare shot at Lake Norring near Wagin. There have been other general reports of hares near Williams, Narrogin and Kojonup. ìWe sought further input at Wagin Woolarama this month, and received a further report there,î Ms Massam said. ìHares are declared pests in Western Australia, and currently there are no known wild populations in this State. ìIt is important for the department to know of any sightings quickly, if we are to continue to protect our agricultural industries and native wildlife from this exotic pest.î Ms Massam said it was illegal to import or keep hares in WA. Any found in the wild were removed. ìPrivacy laws ensure any reports to us will remain confidential,î she said. Hares are similar in appearance to rabbits, but can be distinguished by their larger size, proportionally larger hind legs, black-tipped ears and their characteristic loping, tail-down gait when disturbed. Sightings of hares should be reported to the local department office.”

Hares are found in good numbers in Victoria, NSW, Tasmania, SA and southern Queensland. They were introduced to WA in 1874 and 1902 but they failed to establish…