Lessons of Hope in the Face of Despair: A Review of Chloe Dalton's 'Raising Hare'

Dalton's memoir about raising an abandoned leveret explores the profound connection between humans and the natural world.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 1:06pm

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Chloe Dalton's memoir 'Raising Hare' follows her journey of caring for an abandoned leveret (baby hare) in her UK countryside home. As the leveret grows, Dalton is awed by the beauty and strangeness of nature, the sorrow of watching an animal mature, and the personal growth that comes from inviting a piece of the wild into one's life. The book serves as a timely tribute to hares, whose populations are dwindling due to climate change and habitat loss, and a meditation on how immersing oneself in the natural world can be a powerful antidote to the despair over environmental challenges.

Why it matters

Hares face grave threats from climate change, deforestation, and industrial agriculture, with some regions seeing population declines of 60% in the last decade. 'Raising Hare' responds to these political issues by shifting the focus from despair to hope, showing how wonder, curiosity, and connection with nature can be powerful forces for change.

The details

Dalton's memoir follows her experience of finding an abandoned leveret on her driveway and deciding to care for it, despite her initial uncertainty about how to properly raise a hare. As the leveret gains strength and explores farther, Dalton becomes deeply connected to the creature, learning about hare behavior and biology while also reflecting on her own personal growth and relationship to the natural world. The book weaves Dalton's intimate observations of the leveret with broader discussions of the cultural, scientific, and political issues surrounding hare conservation.

  • Dalton found the abandoned leveret on her driveway.
  • As the leveret grew stronger, Dalton became increasingly awed by its behavior and the natural world.

The players

Chloe Dalton

The author of 'Raising Hare' and the woman who found and cared for an abandoned leveret (baby hare) in her UK countryside home.

The leveret

The wild baby hare that Dalton found and decided to raise, which served as the central focus of her memoir and exploration of the human-nature connection.

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What they’re saying

“She has taught me patience. And...the dignity and persuasiveness of silence. She showed me a different life, and the richness of it. She made me perceive animals in a new light...She made me re-evaluate my life, and the question of what constitutes a good one. I have learnt to savor beautiful experiences while they last...The sensation of wonder she ignited in me continues to burn, showing me that aspects of my life I thought were set in stone are in fact malleable as wax, and may be shaped and reshaped. She did not change, I did. I have not tamed the hare, but in many ways the hare has stilled me.”

— Chloe Dalton, Author

What’s next

Dalton's memoir serves as a timely call to action for readers to appreciate and protect hares and other endangered species, as well as to reflect on their own connections to the natural world.

The takeaway

By forging a profound bond with a wild leveret, Dalton's memoir demonstrates how immersing oneself in nature can be a powerful antidote to despair over environmental challenges, inspiring hope, wonder, and personal growth.