Animal welfare charity welcomes protected status for mountain hares
A leading animal welfare campaigns charity has welcomed the introduction of legal protection for mountain hares.
As of today, it will be illegal to intentionally kill, injure, or take mountain hares at any time unless a licence is obtained.
OneKind has said this will effectively put an end to the mass scale mountain hare killings which previously took place across Scottish grouse moors by gamekeepers.
The charity said an estimated 26,000 mountain hares were killed in Scotland each year before this protection was introduced.
The move has also been welcomed by Highland Council's mountain hare champion, local councillor and convener Bill Lobban.
OneKind director Bob Elliot said: “We are delighted that the day has come when mountain hares have become a protected species and where the mass scale killings of this beautiful animal are put to an end.
"We have campaigned for four years for an end to these culls and so today really does feel like a huge triumph.
"A triumph not just for ourselves, but also for our passionate supporters and all those who campaigned tirelessly for mountain hares.
“There has been a great deal of support for making mountain hares a protected species and efforts from animal welfare organisations, such as OneKind, conservation organisations and passionate individuals made this happen.
"In particular, Alison Johnstone MSP deserves special recognition for her commitment to her role as the Scottish Parliament’s hare champion.
"We are very grateful that she lodged the amendment that is responsible for mountain hares’ new status as a protected species.”
Councillor Lobban said: "I really welcome the new legal protection for this iconic native species.
"The indiscriminate slaughter of hares on an industrial scale will now be a thing of the past but will not prevent numbers being controlled as humanely as possible in very limited circumstances.
"This is a victory for common sense and should allow conservationists and landowners to work together to provide the best outcome for one of our most endearing native inhabitants.”
The Scottish Government has not yet published its mountain hare licensing scheme which is expected to come into force sometime in July.
August 1st 2021 would have been the day which previously marked the next open season for killing mountain hares.
OneKind has said it will continue to push for a robust licensing scheme that priorities hare welfare.
Mr Elliot said: “It is our understanding that until the new licensing scheme comes into effect in July, mountain hares may only be killed if applicants are approved a closed season license in order to protect damage to crops, vegetables, fruit or growing timber.”
Mad as a March Hare... for a Scottish gamekeeper's take on the new protection click here