Wildlife in Grampian: Concern over licences to kill hares
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An animal charity has raised concerns about new rules for killing mountain hares across the Cairngorms and the rest of Scotland.
The Scottish Parliament voted last year to make them a protected species.
From August 1 it will be illegal to intentionally kill one unless a licence is obtained from NatureScot, the public body responsible for Scotland’s natural heritage.
However, the charity OneKind says the licensing system doesn't go far enough.
Its director Bob Elliot said: "The most common method to kill mountain hares under licence will be by shooting.
"We urged NatureScot to introduce a requirement that anyone shooting hares would need to prove that they are competent to do so, to avoid prolonged suffering.
"Sadly, NatureScot did not agree, despite the Scottish Government recently introducing a competency requirement for the shooting of deer.
"If this type of provision is considered necessary for the welfare of deer, there is no logical or scientific reason it should not be for other species.
"We are also concerned that the licensing scheme has permitted falconry as a method of killing.
"Using falcons to kill hares is inhumane for both the hares and the birds.
"It is also inefficient.
"This begs the question, could those using this method just be doing so for their own enjoyment?
"Additionally, the requirement to provide mountain hare population data to obtain a licence was waived for those seeking to protect young trees, which will likely make up most of the licenses granted.
"NatureScot will keep this licensing scheme under review until at least 2024.
"Between now and then we will attempt to monitor how and why hares are being killed and continue to urge NatureScot to strengthen the scheme."
