Cull of 25,000 hares called into question

THEY have inhabited the uplands for more than 130,000 years but are culled in their tens of thousands by estate owners trying to halt the spread of fatal diseases in valuable red grouse.

• Target: the mountain hare, which is smaller than the common brown hare, is almost extinct in parts of Scotland

But now a new report suggests that the yearly slaughter of iconic mountain hares on the Scottish hills to protect the prized game birds from tick-borne conditions may be unnecessary.

The study, published in the Journal Of Applied Ecology by Scottish scientists, claims that on estates where there are other "hosts" on which the blood-sucking ticks can feed - such as deer or sheep - the culling of mountain hares has little effect on the spread of tick-borne diseases, such as louping ill virus.

The report, produced by academics from Glasgow University's Biomedical and Life Sciences department and the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute in Aberdeen, says: "We conclude that there is no compelling evidence base to suggest culling mountain hares might increase red grouse densities."

The Scottish Government is now considering introducing a closed season during which any killing of the hares will be banned.

Although there are no official figures for the number of hares culled, it is estimated by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust that around 25,000 of the creatures are shot or snared every year - a third more than in 1995 - for a variety of reasons including tick control, shooting for sport and for forestry conservation. More than 95 per cent of the UK's mountain hare population is found in Scotland - with just a small number found in the Isle of Man and Derbyshire.

But some wildlife organisations believe the actual figure could be much higher and have called on the Scottish Government to monitor the effect the practice is having on the mountain hare population north of the Border.

"Mountain hares are a very important part of the whole ecosystem, particularly as prey for golden eagles," said Wendy Mattingly, chairwoman of the Tayside Scottish Raptor Studies Group. "It is wrong that they are being over-culled."

There are concerns that mountain hares, which are smaller than the common brown hare, are almost extinct in areas of Scotland where they were previously abundant. They are often targeted in areas where new forests are being grown, as they can damage tree roots, and are also shot for sport by paying marksmen. However, they are also targeted by gamekeepers as they can pass on the ticks that carry the fatal virus to grouse.

"Obviously there are other reasons why hares are culled in certain locations, but I think culling them on open moorland is quite wrong," added Mattingly. "The government needs to ensure the demise of mountain hares is monitored properly."

Previous studies by the GWCT advised that a tight control on the mountain hare population did stem the spread of ticks, but Scott Newey, co-author of the latest study, said the findings should not apply to most estates.

"What is not taken into account in that report is that the research was carried out on an estate where there were no deer or sheep," said Newey. "In that case, the removal of mountain hares did bring about a reduction in tick-borne diseases in red grouse and that is what most estate owners work on now. But, in practice, there are not many estates where there are not at least some other hosts present."

Mountain hares are covered under the European Birds and Habitats Directive and therefore need to be sustainably managed under European law.

But a spokesman for Scottish Natural Heritage said excessive culling of mountain hares could actually lead to a reduction in red grouse populations as larger birds of prey which eat hares looked for alternative sources of food.

"There is little evidence to support the idea that culling hares results in an increase in the number of grouse and we therefore do not support this form of management," he said.

"If hare numbers are reduced too much, then predators may turn to other prey species, including red grouse."

But Dr Adam Smith, director of GWCT in Scotland, said he believed there was still a case for management of the mountain hare population. He argued that on estates where other measures had already been taken to limit the deer population and to treat sheep with a chemical that attracts parasites to use them as "tick mops", some mountain hare culling would be beneficial.

"Mountain hares thrive in Scotland because of the management of grouse moors as they enjoy similar conditions to grouse. It seems like a reasonable balance that sometimes we can manage them [hares] to control diseases."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said steps were being taken to maintain Scotland's mountain hare population. "Our proposals include the introduction of a close season, which will offer them greater protection during their breeding season, as part of the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill which is being considered by Parliament."

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