I knew from my research that a doe hare has on average eight leverets a year. This rate of fertility continues until a female hare is between four and six years old, if she lives that long. I was now aware of the hare having had two sets of leverets—the three born the previous summer, and now this pair of spring leverets. I crept out of the room. I was staggered by the level of trust the hare had shown. She had given birth in absolute secrecy and silence. She had fed her leverets, settled them and then left, trusting that they would be safe with me.
