“How do you know when you’re eating rabbit stew?”/“When it has hares in it.”

A riddle about rabbit stew (or rabbit soup or rabbit pie) is:
 
Q: How do you know when you’re eating rabbit stew?
A: It has hares in it.
 
The joke has been cited in print since at least 1979 and has been frequently included with Easter bunny jokes. “Why did the diner send back the rabbit stew?”/“Because it had a hare in it” is the same joke, but in the context of a restaurant order.
 
 
3 May 1979, Newsday (Long Island, NY), “Smiles,” Kidsday, pg. N11, col. 3:
How can you recognize rabbit stew?
It has hares in it.
—Lili Burgos, Freeport
 
Google Books
The Big Book of Silly Riddles
By Gyles Brandreth
New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.
1988
Pg. 17:
How can you recognize rabbit stew?
It has hares in it.
 
Google Books
The Little Giant Book of Jokes
By Joseph Rosenbloom
Illustrated by Sanford Hoffman
New York, NY: Stering Publishing Companyh, Inc.
1996
Pg. 188:
“How do you know you’re eating rabbit stew?”
“It has hares in it.”
 
20 April 1996, Marshfield (WI) News-Herald, “A Little Bit of Humor,” The Bubble Gum Rapper, pg. 3C, col. 3:
Becky: How can you recognize rabbit stew?
Justin: It has hares in it.
   
22 April 2000, Evening Mail (Birmingham, UK), “Microchipper,,” pg. 40:
How can you tell if it’s rabbit pie for dinner? It has hares in it! ( not very nice, but’s funny!).
     
Google Groups: uk.education.staffroom
A cat’s new year resolutions
tuppence
2/18/02
(...)
How can you tell when it’s rabbit pie for dinner?
It has hares in it.
 
Southern Maryland Online
101 Easter jokes
jazz lady
04-08-2004, 01:40 PM #1
(...)
Q. How do you know when you’re eating rabbit stew?
A. When it has hares in it.
 
Google Books
The Everything Kids’ Gross Jokes Book:
Side-splitting Jokes That Make Your Skin Crawl!
By Aileen Weintraub
Avon, MA: Adams Media
2005
Pg. ?:
How do you know when you’re eating rabbit pie?
It has hares in it.
 
21 March 2008, Pensacola (FL) News Journal, “Jokes & Groaners,” pg. B1, col. 4:
How do you know when you’re eating rabbit stew?
When it has hares in it.
 
Twitter
Garmahis‏
@garmahis
RT @wbaustin: Easter Jokes #jokes #humor #funny Q. How do you know when you’re eating rabbit stew?
A. When it has hares in it.
2:14 PM - 6 Apr 2009