Mountain Hare

Lepus timidus

Mountain Hare

From personal observation - There used to be huge numbers of mountain hares on Beinn a Chuallaich but now there are only a few near the summit. There used to be many near Amulree and often the white specimens would be seen as road kill. They are not seen now.

Culling in order to protect grouse from the tick borne disease looping ill thought to be carried by the hares may be part of the explanation. The replacement of moors by conifer plantations is another cause. The Scottish Moorland group which represents grouse moor owners, the Game and Wildlife Conservation group, which represents shooting interests and the RSPB dispute each other’s figures but there may have been a huge decline such that some sources say there are less than 1% of the number of sixty years ago.

It is difficult to disentangle the truth of numbers from what may be partisan views.

It is suggested that Scottish Natural Heritage should keep a close eye on the situation.

Unlike the brown hare the mountain hare is native to Scotland. It has been introduced to the Peak District, Scottish Borders, Hoy and Mainland in Orkney as well as Skye and a Mull. It was introduced to Wales but is now thought to be extinct. Some say that the brown hare was introduced by the celts in the Iron Age and some say it was the Romans.