Amazing picture shows camera-shy hare giving itself a groom to prepare for mating season

Hilarious close-up pictures show a camera-shy hare covering its face with its paw.

In the snowy Highlands, the hare appears to shield itself from the onlooking camera as it raises a paw to cover its eye.

But, at the height of mating season, the mammal is thought to be licking itself clean to impress any potential partners.

The snow is perfect for hares as they turn white in the winter, meaning they can hide from prey.

Karen, 45, watched the creature for an hour as it performed a full groom on itself in the Scottish Highlands.

She said: “I was up there for about four hours and just gradually got closer to it. Eventually it began its groom which meant it was fine with me being there.

“It spent about 20 minutes doing the full groom. It was a joy to watch and photograph.”