Biologists are eager to determine numbers of different hares and rabbits so they are asking locals from Nottinghamshire to report spring sightings of wild rabbits and hares.

According to biologists, this move is a part of a new conservation initiative that aims to observe whether the numbers of the animals are rising or declining by producing the first National Mammal Atlas in over 20 years. The new conservation initiative is led by the Mammal Society.

It has been believed that hares are decreasing in parts of the UK, whereas rabbits are suffering from yxomatosis and other viral diseases. This is the reason locals have been requested to send images in order to aid map the mammal's UK population.

According to Fiona Mathews, chair of the society, mammals can be uncommon nocturnal, shy, and also hard to see. Mainly in spring when vegetation is low, hares and rabbits are not difficult to spot.

"People tend to assume that because they see them, these animals must be everywhere. In fact, some areas have very low populations, particularly where there have been disease outbreaks, whereas in other areas they can be significant agricultural pests", said Mathews.

Mathews also said that some proof is there that hares could not be as many as they once were. So, there is a need to know whether they are facing the same declines as several other farmland species. Derek Crawley, who is co-coordinating the new atlas, said that hares are normally noticed in pairs and rabbits are frequently seen in social groups.

According to the biologists, hares have long limbs and lollop along and the rabbit has a bobbing gait. As per the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, hairs were used to be common in the countryside and because of a combination of loss of habitat through more intense farming and increased predation, the population has radically decreased.