Leaving them is a protection for them. Rabbits are similar in a sense, although they have warrens so the kits aren't fully exposed the mother will still spend very little time with the kits. Just to feed. The reason is her scent could attract predators, she's a larger animal. Hares have to be even more careful as they don't have warrens. A fully grown hare makes for a much bigger and more obvious target. By leaving her babies somewhere safe and spending as little time as possible with them she's actually protecting them.
@@AviatrixBexx This is correct. Plus even when she leaves, she's still within her sensing range (hearing, smell and sight), so if a predator shows up she'll fight it to defend her babies.
@@terrelljames7161 I pondered the observed behaviour, and I think the leverets simply emptied the dugs they were suckling on. At that point the suckling probably becomes too painful for the mother, and she drums away the ones chewing on the empty dugs.
