A lot of hot hare
Endangered animals face new threat... as there’s not enough snow
THEY are normally very difficult to spot as their white fur camouflages them in the snow-covered hills.
But mountain hares are facing an uncertain future because of climate change, as less snowfall makes them vulnerable to birds of prey.
Fewer snowy days in winter has led to ‘camouflage mismatch’ for the white hares, who start growing coats in October and shed them at the end of February.
The species is classed as ‘at risk’ and, on March 1, it became a crime under the Wildlife and Countryside Act to intentionally or recklessly kill or injure the hare without a licence.
But researchers say they are struggling because of the weather, though this winter has provided good conditions for them.
Their study, entitled Lack of Phenological Shift Leads to Increased Camouflage Mismatch in Mountain Hares, was published in journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. It said: ‘Globally, multiple species moult from a dark summer to white winter coat to maintain camouflage against snowy landscapes.
‘Decreasing snow cover duration owing to climate change is increasing mismatch in seasonal camouflage.’
Now experts are working on a project to count the number of hares in Scotland and hillwalkers and wildlife enthusiasts are invited to contribute to the survey.
An app developed by the Mammal Society allows people to log their entire route in the hills – even those where no hares are seen – to help track the creatures.
Scott Newey, a population ecologist at The James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen, said: ‘We have been doing a lot of work on how to monitor and count mountain hares, particularly in relation to population control and sport shooting. That work has now clearly changed and we’re involved in a large project to look at the national monitoring scheme for mountain hares across Scotland.
‘There are different methods depending on the purpose and the area. In areas where there was the expertise and resources to do so, then the night-time counting of mountain hares was still the best and the preferred method.
‘But in areas not managed for grouse shooting, the more remote and mountainous areas, then it was to use a number of citizenscience-based approaches.
‘That could be to ask and encourage hillwalkers to report and record mountain hare sightings as they go about recreational activities. Hopefully it will be a national survey and people get involved.
‘We get a lot of hillwalkers involved, and dog walkers and joggers will be prepared to use the app to record what they see.’
Wildlife photographer and guide Karen Miller has been monitoring the hares by the Cairngorms National Park near Inverness.
She said: ‘Climate change is causing a real problem, both summer and winter. Hares aren’t like rabbits, they don’t have as many young. They tend to just have one litter, maybe two. It’s a downward spiral at the moment.
‘I go to the hill now, and even at times of year you’d expect to see a lot I was struggling to see many.
‘They’re beautiful and hardy, living up mountains. I go to photograph them, wearing 100 layers and I’m still freezing, and they’re sitting there. It’s incredible.’
‘Climate change is a real problem’