Vulpes vulpes & Lepus europaeus

It’s a captivating match.

Either could claim victory.

But only one has the edge today.

Who’s it gonna be?

And which one are you?

Are you fighting for your life, determined to hold the lead?

Or are you sneaking up, striving to overpower your opponent and capture a win?

The red fox and brown hare are a predator/prey pair.  The brown hare can reach 45 mph, placing this quick contender in the top ten of fastest land mammals.  But look out for the stealth red fox!  She could creep up and pounce at any moment!  Unable to beat her speedy rival in a race, the fox must use the element of surprise to catch her trophy.  If the hare spots her sneaky competitor first, though, she’ll stand up on her hind legs to let the fox know she’s been busted and that a chase will be futile!

While there are currently no threats to either species’ survival, there are still challenges for both, namely dog hunting and fur trading for the red fox, and habitat loss and coursing (dog hunting competitions) for the hare.

To learn more about these riveting rivals, visit the International Fund for Animal Welfare (www.ifaw.org)