Scottish mountain hare survey

Mountain hares are currently listed in Annex V of the EC Habitats Directive (1992), as a species 'of community interest whose taking in the wild and exploitation may be subject to management measures'. 

The government is therefore required to ensure that the conservation status of mountain hares within the UK is favourable and that their populations are managed sustainably.

However, as there have been no comprehensive surveys of mountain hare distribution and consequently no reliable estimates of abundance, it is not possible to assess whether the species currently meets the EC Habitats Directive objectives. As a result of these issues and recent suggestions that mountain hares may be in decline, the species was added to the UK Biodiversity Action Plan list in 2007 to promote future research.

In 2007, the Trust (in collaboration with the Macaulay Institute and the Scottish Gamekeepers Association) was commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage to undertake a postal survey 2007 to assess the current distribution of mountain hares (Lepus timidus) within Scotland and investigate the level of harvest and control of this species. The results of the study were to be compared to findings from a similar study performed by the Trust in 1995/96 (Tapper 1996) to assess whether there have been any changes in the distribution of mountain hares.

Survey forms were mailed to Scottish members of the Trust, the National Gamebag Census and the Scottish Gamekeepers Association along with many land owning organisations. These forms requested contacts to return information regarding the presence/absence of mountain hares on their land. In addition, the number of mountain hares taken (if any) either through harvesting (let and un-let shooting) or population control (protection of forestry/woodland regeneration or to control tick numbers on grouse moors) was requested.

It is hoped that the findings from this survey will form the basis of research to investigate the key factors affecting mountain hare abundance and distribution within Scotland.