IT Is always a special treat to see a brown hare, especially in southwest England where they have become a regional rarity. 

Dorset has its strongholds though and these enigmatic animals are regularly seen at Kimmeridge and around the Isle of Purbeck and even along Chesil Beach, a seemingly uninviting habitat for a herbivore. Unfortunately they have suffered a severe decline in the last 100 years, mainly due to changing farming practices. 

However this time of year is the best time to spot them as they come out of hiding for courtship and breeding. Their boxing antics, as females attempt to fight off over-keen males during courtship, have earned them the nickname ‘Mad March Hares’.

Under the sea, similar madness is going on as sea hares gather to mate. These small sea slugs are relatives of sea snails such as limpets and periwinkles found on the shore but have a much reduced shell that has been enclosed within their soft body. Their name comes, not from their ‘mad’ breeding habitats, but from the long head tentacles reminiscent of a hare’s ears. Their colour, too, is similar, being mainly brown, although this varies from greeny brown to almost red, depending on the colour of seaweed they are eating. 

Sea hares have nothing in common with brown hares when it comes to speed however. While the brown hare can reach speeds of up to 45 mph, the more sedate sea hare isn’t going to win any races. 

It can’t even match the slow pace of a tortoise as it glides along the seabed. It doesn’t need speed to flee from danger as instead it has an altogether more effective defence. If threatened it produces a noxious, foul-tasting purple fluid that is enough to deter the hungriest predator. 

Spring is the height of breeding activity for sea hares when they gather in huge numbers in shallow water, sometimes even venturing into seashore tidepools. They look like they are dancing the conga as they form mating chains, hanging onto the one in front while others join in behind. Each sea hare is a hermaphrodite, acting as both male and female to those either side in the line, with chains of up to twelve individuals having been spotted. 

The madness doesn’t end there, as following mating, vivid pink and orange egg ribbons are produced and stuck to seaweed anchored on the seabed. These are very distinctive and look like the contents of a can of ‘silly string’ squirted after a riotous party. The young larvae hatch after two or three weeks. 

If you would like to find out more about the mad antics of Dorset’s marine wildlife and where and when to see it you can sign up to receive our regular Living Seas e-newsletter, delivered straight to your email inbox www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/e_newsletter