Call for voluntary restraint on large scale hare culls

A joint initiative urging voluntary restraint on large scale culls of mountain hares was launched on 23 December.

The initiative is supported by: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), the James Hutton Institute (JHI) and the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), with funding coming from SNH, JHI and GWCT.

The initiative seeks to establish effective but sustainable management of mountain hares. Mountain hare populations are under threat from habitat loss, fragmentation, and in some areas, from large, local culls on grouse moors. Although not a fully protected species, the UK is obliged to ensure that the status of hare populations is not threatened in any way.

For further details see the press release as reported on the GWCT Blog.