Mountain hares are subject to culling on Scottish grouse moors due to their role as hosts for louping ill virus, with significant welfare debate around legal culling practices.
Mountain hare welfare is affected by culling practices on grouse moors, climate-driven snow cover loss, and tick-borne disease. Mass culls cause widespread mortality with individual welfare implications depending on the killing method and skill of the cullers. Climate change is reducing snow cover, leaving white winter hares conspicuous to predators. Changes to legislation have improved oversight but debate about appropriate management continues.