DANGER FROM BOTH SKY AND LAND

While they are generally docile, mountain hares will defend themselves and their offspring in times of need, and their front paws have hard, very sharp, non-retractable claws, which they can use to swipe at would-be predators. The greatest airborne threats to mountain hares in Scotland are golden and sea eagles, which will swoop down to take them. Numbers of both of these birds are rising. Buzzards and ravens will also attack hares, but confine their attention to the old and sick. Of the mammals, the fox is probably the most effective predator. Among trees and in rocky outlets, pine martens will take hares of any size, while stoats and wildcats will usually only take leverets. Perhaps a more surprising predator of mountain hares around inland rivers is the otter, often thought of as a hunter of fish. On managed grouse moors, the risk of land-based predators at least is reduced. This is because grouse are preyed on by similar animals to mountain hares, so numbers of foxes in particular are controlled. However, here, the hares are more at risk of being shot to keep their population down, due to the tick-borne, louping-ill virus they are thought to spread to grouse. Mountain hares are also hunted as small game, a practice which usually takes place in the winter.