Following recent publicity and commentary on mountain hare culling, Douglas McAdam, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates, wrote this article for today’s Sunday Herald.

Culling is a word that conjures up all sorts of images and, for most people, none of them very attractive. The mere mention of a seal, badger or even deer cull – perhaps the most emotive examples – understandably unleashes passionate debate.

Environment, on the other hand, is a word we are all much more comfortable with. We all know the need and benefits of protecting and nurturing the environment.

So can culling and environment be reconciled? Concern has been expressed recently about the practice of culling mountain hares – understandable given recent coverage in print and social media.

Criticism of culls is often made as a result of the basic misunderstanding that if hares are being culled, the population is therefore being wiped out. Some people, given the information in front of them, may accept that view at face value – but it would not be an accurate conclusion. Mountain hares are not being wiped out – far from it.

We also have to be careful of double standards. Conservation bodies will support a drastic cull of red deer to reduce grazing pressure (leaving the carcasses to rot on the hill) yet will take another stance entirely on mountain hares.

Mountain hare populations move in cycles and they have always been managed by periodic culling when numbers are high. This is still done for the purpose of keeping numbers at a sustainable level, as hares can affect fragile habitats through grazing pressure, can spread sheep tick which also affects red grouse, and can cause the failure of tree-planting schemes. When the population is at a lower point in the cycle, no culling is carried out. Hare populations also fluctuate geographically, so culls are localised. In recent years, the number of hares in parts of the Cairngorms have risen considerably and to levels that have driven the need for properly organised and humane culls.

Culls are legal and recognised as being necessary by a range of conservation bodies including the Scottish Government’s nature organisation, Scottish Natural Heritage.

There is also a duty on estates to prevent grazing pressure on rare flora such as juniper and habitats on Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Estate businesses would be negligent if they ignored such responsibilities.

There is, however, controversy and concern over the scale of culling. There is a protocol in existence between Scottish Land & Estates, which represents estate businesses, the Scottish Game and Wildlife Trust and SNH which states that restraint should be exercised on the scale of culling to ensure that populations can rebuild.

Grouse moors, due to the way they are managed, are the best reservoirs and producers of mountain hares anywhere in the country. But the flip side of that is that they then need to be managed periodically as the population climbs to prevent overgrazing and disease problems. Moorland keepers have long experience of managing hares and use a variety of methods of assessing numbers and therefore the appropriate level of sustainable cull. Culls typically reduce the population by 10-20% and the most efficient and humane method is by shooting. Culling of hares is not a frequent practice.

Essentially, management of hares by culling in this way is no different to managing deer or rabbits. Some conservation bodies and private estates organise large culls of native red deer (Scotland’s most iconic mammal) to reduce their deer numbers to near zero to encourage regeneration and ongoing protection of trees and scrub growth. There is also constant debate over the scale of deer culling but there is no question that sustainable deer management is necessary.

Moorland managers cull mountain hares to maintain the population at a sustainable level and to conserve the open heather habitat. Voluntary restraint is exercised. There is no point in culling hares, or indeed any desire to, if there could be any risk to their conservation status.

The most difficult aspect of this debate for moorland managers is that they see the reality on the ground and believe firmly that conservation is a key element of their professional duties. Those of us involved in this work also have a duty to inform the public why this is necessary and that it is being done humanely and correctly. If you go to the Cairngorms today, you will find mountain hares in abundance and living proof that culling and environmental benefit do have a place together in the heather clad hills.

administrator
37 Comments

  1. I am in fact thankful to the owner of this web page who
    has shared this enormous post at at this time.

    Also visit my web site … nordvpn coupons inspiresensation (92url.com)

  2. Hi there to every one, the contents existing at this site are genuinely awesome for
    people knowledge, well, keep up the good work fellows.

    Visit my page nordvpn coupons inspiresensation (t.co)

  3. Howdy! This blog post could not be written much better!
    Looking at this article reminds me of my previous roommate!
    He continually kept preaching about this. I will send this
    information to him. Pretty sure he’ll have a great read.
    Many thanks for sharing!

    Here is my blog post :: nordvpn coupons inspiresensation (http://easyurl.cc/)

  4. I enjoy what you guys tend to be up too. This kind of clever
    work and reporting! Keep up the wonderful works
    guys I’ve included you guys to my personal blogroll.

    My webpage :: nordvpn Coupons inspiresensation

  6. Hello i am kavin, its my first occasion to commenting anyplace,
    when i read this post i thought i could also create comment due to this good paragraph.

    Feel free to visit my blog post: eharmony special coupon code 2025

  7. Great blog here! Additionally your website rather a lot up very fast!
    What host are you the use of? Can I am getting your affiliate link in your host?

    I desire my site loaded up as fast as yours lol gamefly free trial https://tinyurl.com/23mmjj8a

  8. After looking over a number of the blog articles
    on your web site, I truly appreciate your technique of blogging.
    I bookmarked it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back in the near future.
    Please check out my website too and let
    me know what you think. https://tinyurl.com/2ytofo73 what is
    a vpn

  9. Do you have a spam problem on this site; I also am a blogger, and I was curious about your situation; many of us have created some nice practices and we are looking to
    trade techniques with others, be sure to shoot me an e-mail if interested.

  10. What’s up to every one, the contents present at this web page are genuinely remarkable for people knowledge, well, keep up the nice work fellows.

  11. Track blockchain technology developments and crypto legislative trends in real time.

    web page

  12. Make smarter investment choices with targeted cryptocurrency risk assessment
    reports.

    site

  15. Hello, I enjoy reading all of your article.
    I like to write a little comment to support you.

  16. 케어홈은 출장마사지, 출장안마, 출장홈타이 이용 방법과 프로그램,
    요금, 서울·수도권 방문 가능 지역, 후불제 예약 기준을
    안내하는 24시간 방문 케어 서비스입니다.

  17. hey there and thank you for your info – I have certainly picked up something new
    from right here. I did however expertise a few technical issues using
    this web site, since I experienced to reload the web site a lot of times
    previous to I could get it to load correctly.
    I had been wondering if your web host is OK? Not that I am
    complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will sometimes affect your placement in google and can damage your quality score if advertising and marketing with
    Adwords. Well I’m adding this RSS to my e-mail and could look out
    for much more of your respective fascinating content. Make sure you update
    this again very soon.

  18. I blog quite oftenn and I genuinely appreciaste your information. The article has truly peaked my interest.
    I am going to take a note of your site and keep checking foor nnew information about
    once a week. I subscribed to your Feed too.

    Here is mmy site: car services nyc

  19. whoah this weblog is excellent i like reading
    your articles. Stay up the great work! You already know, a
    lot of individuals are looking around for this information,
    you could aid them greatly.

  20. Saved as a favorite, I really like your web site!

  21. you’re really a good webmaster. The website loading pace
    is incredible. It seems that you are doing any
    distinctive trick. In addition, The contents are masterpiece.

    you have done a fantastic task in this subject!

  22. I have been exploring for a little for any high quality articles or blog posts in this
    kind of house . Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this site.
    Reading this information So i’m happy to show that I’ve
    an incredibly just right uncanny feeling I came
    upon just what I needed. I such a lot no doubt will make sure to don?t omit this web site and give it
    a look regularly.

  24. I needed to thank you for this good read!!
    I certainly enjoyed every bit of it. I have you book marked to check
    out new stuff you post…

  25. I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this
    post was good. I don’t know who you are but definitely you are going to a famous blogger if
    you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!

    Here is my web page ของแต่งรถ

  27. Hourc fuckerHott cocks hhot pussiesReed tbe free videoss orgyYouhtube marabou lingerieFishh tatoo xxxMelanie fucke doggystyleKriistin randall boobsHow iis addicyinggames pornographyDugs
    thzt caus sxual sensationsBigg mathre tijts hairy
    pussyPregnznt ffucking andd suckingSexual violence 2010 jeelsoft enterpises
    ltdTeenie fyck pornSteve irwin and gay actorLesboo eater picsGirrls using machines tto fuckHarbor freight deep
    troat hanbd punchPayal roatgi iin bikiniRedhads with peircingsSex
    scene movbie clipsBible studiess for teenNudde hot
    tubbinThaai trannby fuckingNudee girl kissinng videosXxxx ghost
    storiesSleeping virginsCartoon sex cumNudee gir scoput picsHarrdcore megn ffox sexVrgin mary
    appearanceGaay fermin777 arizonaMinjie rrae slput
    moviesFakke cepebritie analWhite trazh nked womenWhatt iis thee musle inn the vaginaPond off pussyHavee
    ssex with tthe girl gameBlahk bopoty sexyNudee fenale catfightingTit
    come outBigg blac coc ffree galleryErotc onfessions att tthe toneHordny naked pudsy shoeing womanPoundinhg thhe mare’s winkiing cuntFrree aadult lesbiian cartoonBruttany speaars shavedTeeen hard-onsRocney mmoore porn film’sE36 windoow adustment oon botttom
    off doorDoctor tujshy porn tubeAmatteur facils ‘amateur facialsFree british gangbangShow me your hairy
    cuntInternet for porn songMale wrestlers showing their assCelebrity escorts londonPorn paliceCollege girls experiment lesbianVideos of gay men kissingIndian naked breastsLatex mattress factorydirectAnglelina jolie nudeHot sexy lesbian kissingNaked puberty boysSteve
    sanderson adult expo photoYoh pornAcutron facial rejuvinationLesbians 44870Sex pistols ep 2Helena
    darc nakedLeg long nude woman xxx1988 advertisement vintageThe best xxx streaming websiteBritney free nude pic
    pop spear upAss blonde penetratedSouthern dickHot men in showers gayAnjasmara nudeGay mags pornPaul hamm gayTeens sex tgp ofvd9wuaptae8jvr9qkp

  29. I have read so many posts on the topic of the blogger lovers however this
    article is really a pleasant paragraph, keep it up.

  30. Hey there, I think your website might be having browser compatibility issues.

    When I look at your blog site in Chrome, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has
    some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up!
    Other then that, awesome blog!

  31. If you want to obtain a good deal from this post then you have
    to apply such strategies to your won weblog.

  33. Greetings! Very useful advice in this particular article!
    It’s the little changes that produce the largest changes.
    Many thanks for sharing!

  34. Every weekend i used to pay a visit this site, for the reason that i wish for enjoyment, for
    the reason that this this web site conations in fact pleasant funny information too.

  35. Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you writing this article
    and the rest of the website is extremely good.

  36. I like the helpful info you provide in your
    articles. I will bookmark your weblog and check again here regularly.
    I am quite sure I will learn lots of new stuff right here!
    Best of luck for the next!

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

four × one =