Bruno the leveret is being hailed as a little miracle after surviving a dramatic birth – following the tragic death of his mother in a farming accident.
The tiny baby hare is now thriving under the care of the Scottish SPCA, after local farmer Robert Craig made the heartbreaking discovery while working in a field near Dumfriesshire on 13 May.
Robert had been carrying out a silaging operation when he accidentally struck an adult female hare with his machinery.
As he checked the animal, he noticed something astonishing — movement in her belly.
I had to act quickly to give the babies a chance at life
“I went to check what I had struck and sadly found the hare dead,” he said. “But then I saw her stomach move and knew instantly she was pregnant, and I had to act quickly to give the babies a chance at life.”
In an extraordinary act of compassion, Robert delivered two tiny leverets by the side of the road — performing an emergency Caesarean section procedure with a pen knife to save the babies.
He said: “I carefully cut them open and saw the babies. I gave them a gentle swing to clear out any mucus, just like you would with newborn lambs. Then I started rubbing their bodies to try and get them breathing, and sure enough, they gasped and came around. So, I stopped working, got them warmed up and called the Scottish SPCA.”
Tragically, one did not survive
Tragically, one did not survive — but the other, named Bruno by Scottish SPCA staff for his fighting spirit, is now making a remarkable recovery at the charity’s National Wildlife Rescue Centre.
Animal Rescue Officer Emma Totney, who attended the scene, said:
“When I arrived, I was surprised by how alert and energetic the baby was – it was a huge relief. He was feeding well and already showing signs of real fight.”
Bruno was immediately transferred to Fishcross, where the Scottish SPCA’s wildlife team provides round-the-clock care for orphaned and injured animals.
He was smaller… but clearly a fighter
“He was smaller than we’d expect for a newborn, but clearly a fighter,” Emma added. “He’s a little miracle.
“He was feeding well and showed great energy, so I knew I needed to get him to our team at Fishcross as quickly as possible.
“We stopped a couple of times on the journey for feeds, and each time he did brilliantly.
We were all amazed he had survived such a dramatic start to life.
“It’s heartwarming to know that thanks to a kind-hearted farmer, the wildlife centre team, and myself, this little miracle will get the chance to return to the wild and live a full life.”
Bruno was admitted to the Scottish SPCA’s National Wildlife Rescue Centre underweight at just 80g – well below the typical 100–130g birth weight for a newborn hare.
Wildlife assistant Shauni Stoddart, who has been caring for Bruno, said: “When Bruno first arrived, he was 20g underweight and in a very fragile condition. Due to his unique circumstances, he was hand-reared at home for the first five days to minimise stress. He responded incredibly well, quickly gaining strength.”
Bruno has since grown significantly, now weighing more than nine times his original weight. He has adapted to milk feeds beautifully and has begun eating independently.
The team is optimistic that Bruno will be ready for release in the coming weeks, provided his progress continues.
“He’s a true little fighter,” adds Shauni. “It’s been an emotional journey for everyone involved but seeing him grow stronger every day is so rewarding.”
Bruno’s birth was very extraordinary, and the Scottish SPCA wouldn’t recommend anyone performing this kind of surgery on any animal.
For more information about hares and what to do if you find a baby leveret, please visit our website.
