Mountain hare culls
Myth buster
Why are mountain hare are culled?
Culls have a variety of motives, but the principal reason red grouse are culled on grouse moors appears to be to control the tick-borne louping-ill virus. In the only study of the issue, a questionnaire-based survey of estates in 2006/7 found that 50% of hares shot were culled for this reason. This is substantiated by claims made by shooting organisations. For example, GWCT advise that “where grouse suffer from tick and the tick-borne louping-ill virus, hares can sustain high levels of these parasites and help perpetuate the disease. As there is no alternative form of treatment, in these cases hare numbers may need to be temporarily reduced to suppress the disease”1.
The same study estimated that 10% of hares shot were culled to protect forestry interests, and 40% was sport shooting. In recent years, however, it appears that large scale culling of mountain hares on grouse moors has become part of the routine management which seeks to establish very high numbers and densities of red grouse to be commercially shot2. This is consistent with reports in the media of large- scale culls, including:
Lammermuir hills, 2014 – RSPB Scotland received evidence that between 1500 and 1700 mountain hares were shot by landowners across the Lammermuirs in the spring. Balmoral, 2016 - Two culls involving Balmoral and neighbouring estates were witnessed, one of which was said to have killed 500 hares. Lecht mountain pass, 2016 - A birdwatcher encountered a mountain hare cull. Images show a group of 20 armed gamekeepers equipped with more than a dozen high-tech off-road vehicles and hundreds of dead hares.
Arguments for inaction and our response
1) We don’t know enough to take action on culls
Culls may be having a significant impact on the population but they are not monitored. Whilst population data is partial and out of date, the evidence we have suggests mountain hare are in decline. Given mountain hare are a priority species for conservation action, and there are significant welfare concerns associated with large-scale culling, the Scottish Government should apply the precautionary principle and take urgent action to end culls.
1 http://www.gwct.org.uk/research/species/mammals/mountain-hare/
2 Watson, A. (2013) Mammals in north-east Highlands. Paragon Publishing, Rothersthorpe, UK.
1
Mountain hare are a priority species conservation action under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, on the Scottish Biodiversity List, listed on Annex V of the EU Habitats Directive, and a listed on the IUCN Red List. The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) has monitored mountain hare as part of the annual Breeding Bird Survey since 1996, and their data, albeit for a limited sample size, suggests an overall decline of 34% between 1996 and 20143. Scottish Natural Heritage advises that the evidence suggests a decline4. Observations on the ground suggest there is a decline. The Mammal Society notes that there are some western Scottish moors they are now rare where they were previously abundant5. Dr Adam Watson estimates that spring abundance of adults has been reduced by between five to a hundred-fold on most grouse moors6. There are serious welfare concerns associated with large-scale culls. Given the scale of the culls, the challenging nature of shooting small mammals in rough terrain, and the lack of any regulation of oversight, it is reasonable to conclude that the culls may be causing serious and, given the numbers of individuals involved, extensive suffering. The Scottish Government have commissioned a four year study (2014-2017) involving Scottish Natural Heritage and scientists in the James Hutton Institute and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, on trialling various methods of counting hares. The study aims to develop a means of assessing mountain hare population density. It will report by the end of 2017, however we already have sufficient evidence to act.
2) Grouse moors are such a good habitat for mountain hares we need to kill them
Mountain hares can reach very high population densities on heavily managed grouse moors. This is because they benefit from the same management measures aimed at delivering high densities of red grouse, including heather burning and the legal removal of predators, such as foxes, and illegal raptor persecution. If these practices are delivering such high densities of red grouse and mountain hares that disease is inevitable, the practices should be modified. Predation is a natural process, and if predator control was reduced it would keep mountain hare densities at more normal levels.
3) Mountain hares spread disease
Studies suggest that most culls on grouse moors are conducted to control the tick-borne louping ill virus that can affect red grouse numbers (see above).
Whilst there is no doubt mountain hare carry ticks, there is no clear evidence that their control could be part of an effective red grouse management regime. Indeed, its scientific basis is so tenuous that SNH’s scientific experts advise that “There is no clear evidence that mountain hare culls serve to increase red grouse densities” 7. Similarly, the most recent scientific review of the effectiveness of mountain hare
3 BTO, JNCC & RSPB (2015) The Breeding Bird Survey 2015 4 Newey, S., Iason, G.and Raynor, R. (2008). The conservation status and management of mountain hares. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No.287 (ROAME No. F05AC316). 5 Mammal Society (2016) Mountain hare species guide 6 Herald Scotland (2014) Grouse moor owners driving mountain hares to the brink 7 Werritty, A., Pakeman, R.J., Shedden, C., Smith, A., and Wilson, J.D. (2015). A Review of Sustainable Moorland Management. Report to the Scientific Advisory Committee of Scottish Natural Heritage. SNH, Battleby.
culling as a management technique for louping ill concluded that “there is no compelling evidence base to suggest culling mountain hares might increase red grouse densities”8.
It has also been argued that mountain hare culling protects human health by controlling Lymes disease. Lymes disease can be a serious illness and it is transmitted by ticks. However, there is no evidence that culling mountain hare can reduce the prevalence of Lymes disease. Culling mountain hare as part of a disease management strategy is not Government policy, nor has it been proposed. More information on ticks and Lymes disease can be found here.
4) Mountain hares damage fragile habitats
Mountain hares are native to Scotland. Their natural habitat is sub-alpine scrub but they also thrive on grouse moors. The mountain hare is an important part of the upland ecosystem, shaping their habitat through grazing and providing a range of predator species, including golden eagles and wildcats, with an important food source. If mountain hares are occurring at very high densities and this is causing a problem, this can be addressed through reducing or halting predator control. Where forestry interests need protecting this should be achieved through exclusion.
5) Mountain hares are not thriving in nature reserves and other land that isn’t managed by gamekeepers
It is inevitable that mountain hare densities will be high in areas where predators are eradicated and heather is burnt. Where these practices are either absent or reduced, mountain hare numbers may be lower. This means that they are thriving as part of a balanced ecosystem, rather than existing at unnaturally high densities.
6) Without culls, mountain hares would die anyway
The SGA has also warned that banning culls would result in “dead hares lying everywhere”9 because of intestinal parasites caused by unsustainably dense populations of mountain hare. We are not aware of evidence for this, but note that this does not:
Reflect the fact that all the signals are the Scotland’s mountain hares are in decline, Consider alternatives to large-scale culling, such as reducing predator control.
8 Harrison, A., Newery, S., et al (2010) Culling wildlife hosts to control disease: mountain hares, red grouse and louping ill virus. Journal of Applied Ecology, 47: 926–930 9 https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/perth-kinross/312057/mountain-hares-being-culled-to-prevent- damage-to-new-trees/