Mountain hares are culled on UK grouse moors to reduce tick burden on grouse. The welfare, conservation, and ethical dimensions of this practice are actively contested.
Mountain hare culls cause individual welfare harm through shooting. Wounding rates - the proportion of shot animals that are injured but not recovered - are poorly documented but a significant welfare concern. The practice is driven by grouse moor economics rather than mountain hare conservation needs. Licensing requirements improve oversight but do not address the fundamental welfare concern about the scale of killing. Non-lethal tick control alternatives are insufficiently explored.