The government is being urged to introduce safeguards for mountain hares as a matter of urgency.

Species under threat from widespread culls, coalition warns 

Conservationists are calling for a temporary ban on the culling of mountain hares on grouse moors, as the species is suffering serious declines and even local extinctions in some areas.

A coalition of 10 environmental groups says mountain hares are being routinely culled on a large scale across many grouse moors in Scotland, despite a period of ‘voluntary restraint’.

RSPB Scotland, which is part of the coalition, believes these culls are having a serious negative effect on hare populations, causing severe declines and possibly even local extinctions in some areas. Conservationists say the Scottish Government must do more to protect the species.

Duncan Orr-Ewing, of RSPB Scotland, said: “In 2014 we had serious concerns that the notion of voluntary restraint would be ignored by many in the grouse shooting industry and, with the evidence of culls continuing on many moors over the last three years, it seems that these fears have been well founded….

“We still do not know what impact these large scale culls are having on mountain hares’ wider conservation status and this could mean that the Scottish Government may be in breach of its legally binding international obligations for this species.”

The government is being urged to introduce safeguards for mountain hares as a matter of urgency, including a temporary ban on culling, until measures can be put in place to ensure their numbers remain at a sustainable level.

Susan Davies, director of conservation at the Scottish Wildlife Trust, which is also involved in the coalition, said: “Lethal control should be halted until there is both accurate information on the number of hares culled, and the true effect of these culls on the health of the hare population is known.”

MSP Alison Johnstone is supporting the coalition’s call to safeguard mountain hares. She said: “The mountain hare is a true icon of our upland areas and an important part of our natural heritage. The unnecessary and unregulated culling of mountain hares on intensive grouse moors across Scotland is damaging populations of this species beyond recovery.

“I have previously asked the Cabinet Secretary to ban these culls, at the very least in our National Parks and I support the call from these 10 organisations…”

It is hoped the issue will be considered by an independent expert group, which will be looking at how grouse moors can be managed sustainably, and within the law.

Image © RSPB/Andrew Marshall