The Revive coalition (a coalition of like-minded organisations working for grouse moor reform in Scotland) have just sent out a newsletter asking as many people as possible to write to Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) asking them to sign an amendment that would make Mountain Hares a protected species, potentially seeing the end of grouse moor estates shooting them in huge numbers as ‘vermin’.
This is it. We now have our chance to end the mass killing of our native Scottish mountain hares.
An amendment in Parliament to the Animals and Wildlife (Scotland) Bill to make mountain hares a protected species will be voted on next Wednesday (17 June) and you can help make this happen!
We need you to write to your MSPs so they don’t miss this key opportunity to end the slaughter.
On average 26,000 mountain hares are killed in Scotland every year, largely on grouse moors because they are (questionably) believed to threaten the number of grouse available for sport shooting.
We need every possible MSP to back this amendment so if you as their constituent can write to them it will make a big difference. When writing your MSPs you may wish to highlight how strongly you feel that mountain hares should be protected, that the mass killing of this iconic and native species is unacceptable and that you expect their support in making them a protected species – that they should agree with Alison Johnstone’s amendment number 30.
Footage about mountain hare persecution narrated by Chris Packham can be seen herealthough you may find the footage disturbing.
Write to Government Minister Mairi Gougeon
If you wish to persuade the Government Minister responsible for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment to back this amendment you can write to Mairi Gougeon MSP using this address here: scottish.ministers@gov.scot. Minister Gougeon will be speaking on behalf of the Government next week so lets show her how many of us care for Scotland’s mountain hare. When writing to the Minister you may want to highlight how strongly you feel that mountain hares should be protected, that the Scottish Government has seen the evidence it requested before taking action and that now is the time to take the action they promised – that she should agree with Alison Johnstone’s amendment number 30
Thank you for all you do to change the face of Scotland for our people, our wildlife and the environment and thank you in advance for your help with this
@FoxHITeam: 🏴🦊🏴 There is a new petition to keep up the pressure to ban snaring in Wales. Please sign and share - it takes a few seconds and is open to residents throughout the UK. Help end snare cruelty today. HIT. https://t.co/rAKyQe9E5Whttps://t.co/k4nWLE2Bot
@RuralPolicingSC: Early start for the team today, working in partnership with Natural England and the RSPB. As a result of ongoing enquiries following what’s believed to be the deliberate poisoning of a Common Buzzard we’ve seized several guns, along with a quantity of pesticides. #OperationOwl. https://t.co/H6BojcemiE
@MoorlandMonitor: Great to see @peakdistrict Mountain Hares feature on @bbcemt. Climate change is a serious threat to our treasured white winter hares. But no mention of their persecution by gamekeepers in the report. Surely protection from snares and traps is now more critical than ever? https://t.co/xkjlIibSDD
@MoorlandMonitor: Stink bins are a grim gamekeeping tool, used to attract predators to be snared and killed. But they can be challenged and removed on several grounds:
▪️ Use of dead domestic livestock.
▪️ Lack of consent on SSSI.
▪️ Unauthorised structures and imported animal matter on SSSI. https://t.co/MMObvVnnFe
Another storming victory from @WildJustice_org and a classic 'burn' from @MarkAvery as he 'thanks' BASC for pointing out the 'vagueness of' General licence legislation to the judge...
https://t.co/v5bNKLS983
Investigation by @NottsRuralCops and RSPB into illegal crow trap use proves how important it is that we all recognise these hideous things and know what to do / who to call when we find one being used illegally:
https://t.co/sekKGQKiaXhttps://t.co/e61enXc75e