Mountain hares in Scotland are legally culled on grouse moors to reduce tick burden on red grouse, raising significant welfare and conservation concerns.
Poorly executed shooting causes wounding and prolonged death from shock, blood loss or freezing temperatures. The scale of culling — historically tens of thousands annually — represents a significant aggregate welfare burden. The 2021 moratorium reduced culling pressure but enforcement is inconsistent. The ecological justification for culling is disputed, making welfare costs harder to justify on conservation grounds.