Letter: Obvious decline in hare numbers

SEVEN influential organisations sent the "hare cull" letter (Debate, 23 January), but their case is flawed. They claim your article of 9 January is inaccurate, but fail to specify any inaccuracy. They assert that moors can "harvest" hares, a misleading term where killing makes hares scarce.

The authors of a recent scientific paper found no compelling evidence that culling hares increases grouse. The seven bodies ignore this impartial assessment that goes against their case.

They assert that grouse management has allowed Scottish hare densities "up to ten times greater than seen anywhere else in Europe". This is erroneous. Swedish densities have been recorded far higher than any in Scotland.

Over-culling has "never been quantified", claim the seven. Yet it is elementary statistical analysis to quantify changes from abundance to rarity as seen by many observers. My counts show big declines on numerous moors since 2000. The Scottish Gamekeepers Association's magazine openly describes hare reduction and an Inverness-shire landowner admitted it in a newspaper.

The letter cites a survey showing the hare's range has not changed. This is beside the point. Heavy killing has made hares scarce on many moors. They still abound in a few places without such killing.

Scottish Natural Heritage, the Cairngorms National Park Authority and ministers could end this poor land stewardship and associated illegal persecution of protected raptors by monitoring, legislating, licensing and banning all taxpayers' money to offending estates.

Dr Adam Watson, Crathes, Banchory