Charity calls for end to mountain hare culling
ANIMAL protection charity OneKind has renewed calls to end the mass killing of mountain hares that occurs on the last day of the open season.
A spokesperson for OneKind said: ‘Mountain hares are protected by a closed season from March 1 until July 31. Outwith this period, animals are killed as part of large-scale culls to manage land for red grouse shooting and can also be shot freely for sport.
‘In September last OneKind presented 11,000-strong petition Scottish Parliament’s year, its to the Public Petitions Committee in a bid to end the mass killing of mountain hares in Scotland. A further 8,000 people have also signed a petition from the charity asking VisitScotland to stop promoting recreational mountain hare killing.’
OneKind director Harry Huyton added: ‘Scotland’s mountain hares have been given some respite as the open season has come to a close. The mass killing of these animals – apparently to protect sporting interests – is unjustified, unregulated and unethical.
‘We’re looking to the Scottish Government to take urgent action and end the killing before the open season starts again.’
In January, Mr Huyton appeared on an episode of BBC Countryfile which also showed a mountain hare cull for the first time.
Mr Huyton said he hoped that the programme would shine a light on the practice and help take another step towards offering mountain hare protection.
The Oban Times contacted the Scottish Government and asked if it was considering a ban on mountain hare culling.
A government spokesperson said: ‘We acknowledge there is significant public concern about mountain hare culls on grouse moors.
‘The Scottish Government has already set up an independent expert group to consider the environmental impact of grouse moor management. Its members have been asked to make recommendations on the need for additional regulation, including the potential for a licensing scheme.’
The Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association declined to comment.