Scottish government protection for mountain hares comes into force from today

Last June members of the Scottish Parliament (MSP; Scottish Gaelic: Ball Pàrlamaid na h-Alba, BPA) voted to ban the unlicensed culling of mountain hares and to make them a protected species. The new law came into force today March 1st 2021 and forms part of the new Animals and Wildlife Bill. The measure was proposed and campaigned for by Scottish Green MSP Alison Johnstone and gives greater protection for mountain hares.  Mountain hares are Scotland's only native hare, where they could have existed since the last ice age. This Bill allows for the worst animal cruelty offences to be punishable by up to five years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

Campaigners are calling March 1st National Mountain Hare Day. The killing of mountain hares has been increasingly criticised, with ecologists pointing to the a marked decline in the species since the 1950s. The Scottish Government (Scottish Gaelic: Riaghaltas na h-Alba) has put forward figures suggesting about 26,000 hares are killed every year. Alison Johnstone MSP said: “Today is an important moment for all those who campaigned for years to end the indiscriminate mass slaughter of mountain hares on Scotland’s grouse moors.

“These new protections come as a direct result of my amendment to wildlife laws last year, which forced the Government to act after years of delay.

“Overwhelming public support for action ensured that Parliament supported this change, and I would like to express my gratitude in particular to the tens of thousands of campaigners who backed my amendment and helped push it over the line.

“Now that mountain hares are a protected species, the Scottish Government has a responsibility to protect them.

“We will be keeping a close eye on them and will challenge any move that suggests they are not fulfilling this duty.

“Scotland is in a nature emergency, with one in nine species at threat.

“The progress we are seeing today is important but we need to do so much more.

“The Scottish Greens are committed to fighting for Scotland’s nature, ending the persecution of our wildlife and restoring Scotland’s unique and beautiful natural environment.”

Image above: Mountain Hare

Image below: Scottish Green MSP Alison Johnstone