Wildlife Welfare

Wild Mountain Hare Thermal Welfare

Mountain hares in Scotland face climate welfare challenges as their winter white coat no longer matches brown ground conditions when snow cover is reduced by climate change.

Key Facts

Mountain hares moult to white in autumn regardless of snow cover conditions
Climate change is reducing Scottish snow cover duration significantly
White hares against snow-free brown ground are highly visible to predators
Populations in some areas have declined due to increased predation from mismatch
Genetic adaptation takes many generations and may not keep pace with climate change

Welfare Considerations

Climate change creates a welfare mismatch for mountain hares whose coat colour change is genetically programmed but now out of synchrony with snow cover. Increased predation pressure from this phenological mismatch represents a climate welfare impact on wild mountain hare populations.

What You Can Do

Support climate change mitigation as the most effective long-term intervention for mountain hare welfare
Advocate for protection of mountain hare populations in the face of climate pressure
Engage with the evidence linking climate change to specific wildlife welfare impacts