Mountain hares are managed on some Scottish grouse moors through culling that reduces tick burdens on grouse, but population declines raise welfare and conservation concerns.
Mountain hares subjected to intensive culling operations experience acute injury from shooting. Hares caught in snares experience prolonged distress and injury. Population reduction to low densities through culling removes the social context in which hares naturally live. Alternative tick management approaches including acaricide treatment of grouse avoid the welfare cost of hare culling entirely.