Wanted: someone to conduct first head count of hare population

AN unusual census is due to get underway later this year when a head count is carried out on one of the country’s most secretive residents.

The first survey of the national hare population is to be commissioned to try and find out how many of the distinctive species exist and where they are faring best.

Two varieties of the long-eared mammal live in Ireland, the Irish hare and the brown hare, but, ironically given their protected status, the only regular statistics available to wildlife experts come from hunting bag records and coursing club returns.