Wildlife Welfare

Wild Mountain Hare Culling and Welfare Scotland

Mountain hare culling in Scotland for grouse disease management raises significant welfare and conservation concerns.

Key Facts

Mountain hares in Scotland are culled on driven grouse moors to reduce louping ill virus transmission
Culls have removed thousands of hares annually on some estates
Mountain hares are a protected species but culling is permitted under specific licences
Scientific review of cull effectiveness for louping ill control has questioned the evidence base
NatureScot licencing reforms have restricted hare culling and require evidence of need

Welfare Considerations

Mountain hare culling causes direct welfare harm to individual animals and population-level welfare impacts on a vulnerable native species. Regulatory reform requiring evidence of disease management necessity before culling represents a significant welfare improvement.

What You Can Do

Support NatureScot licensing reforms restricting mountain hare culling to evidenced cases
Advocate for monitoring programmes tracking mountain hare population welfare and trends
Engage with grouse moor management reform campaigns including restoration of biodiversity