Mountain hares are native to upland Scotland and face threats from driven grouse management, disease and climate change, with welfare implications for a declining population.
Mountain hares face multiple welfare pressures. Culling on grouse moors causes direct welfare harm through shooting and wounding. Viral disease causes acute suffering. Loss of snow cover leaves white-coated hares conspicuous and vulnerable to predators during winter. Population management should balance conservation with minimising individual welfare harm.