Wild Mountain Hare Welfare Scotland

Mountain hares face legal culling pressure on grouse moors and climate threats in Scottish uplands - their welfare needs protection.

Key Facts

Mountain hares are found in the uplands of Scotland and the Peak District in England
They turn white in winter providing camouflage in snow but increasingly exposed in snowless winters
Climate change is reducing snow cover making white-coated hares more visible and vulnerable to predators
Legal culling on grouse moors has reduced some populations substantially
They are a Priority Species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and require careful management
NatureScot introduced licensing requirements for mountain hare culling in 2021

Welfare Considerations

Mountain hare welfare faces twin pressures from legal culling on grouse moors and climate change affecting camouflage effectiveness. Culling welfare concerns include both individual suffering during culls and population-level welfare impacts from large-scale reduction of a Priority Species. Climate adaptation for mountain hares is a longer-term welfare challenge with no clear management solution.

What You Can Do

Support NatureScot reviews of mountain hare culling licensing conditions
Donate to OneKind and Scottish Wildlife Trust campaigns for mountain hare protection
Advocate for evidence-based assessment of culling impacts on mountain hare welfare and conservation
Support climate change mitigation as a long-term welfare measure for cold-adapted species
Participate in mountain hare survey training through local wildlife groups