'EVIDENCE rather than ideology' should be the basis for future legislation on wildlife management, according to Scottish Land and Estates.

Speaking at the Royal Highland Show, SLaE chairman David Johnstone said there was a need for care in introducing new laws on the back of activism rather than balanced research from independent sources.

Green MSP Alison Johnstone has called for new legislation to ban mountain hare management, despite government-backed research demonstrating the species' 'prosperous' numbers on managed Scottish grouse moors.

Mr Johnstone said: “Less than two years ago, Scottish Natural Heritage said that they did not consider that a moratorium on mountain hare culling was justified at that time, with evidence of a national decline in numbers not conclusive. Even since 2017, substantial new research has been undertaken to further our collective knowledge about mountain hare populations, none of which supports fresh calls for a ban.

“A new counting method for mountain hares was rolled out following the 2018 publication of a three-year research project that compared different methodology," he said. "GWCT research found that the management of driven grouse moors appeared to provide a net benefit to mountain hare populations, even after population control was factored in.

“In the Highland region, the density of mountain hares on driven grouse moors was 35 times higher than on moors not managed for shooting – clearly suggesting that mountain hares are doing better on grouse moors than anywhere else in Scotland, where legal predator control is undertaken and heather – a key part of their diet – is flourishing.

“No mention is made in this proposed bill of the 100,000 deer that are culled in Scotland each year or the greater number of rabbits that are killed, for broadly the same reasons as hares are managed," he noted. "As a result, it would cast doubt on the welfare objectives of this bill," said Mr Johnstone, who noted that the issue of mountain hares was closely related to grouse moor management, which was itself currently being reviewed by an independent panel established by government.

The GWCT in Scotland has stressed that evidence must have a vital part to play in the consultation on Ms Johnstone’s proposed bill. Director Bruce Russell said: "It is important that the debate surrounding this proposed bill is rooted in what we know, rather than what we think we know, and led by fact and not by emotion. GWCT has this year published new work showing that driven grouse shooting provides a conservation benefit to Scotland’s mountain hare population. This and mapping work we have recently undertaken disputes claims of drastic hare reductions on grouse moors.

"Much of our work is highlighting a real issue for mountain hares, that of losing moorland habitats and the management on which the hares thrive," he said.

"Action should only be taken if there is an issue. Hares are already protected by a 'no shooting' season. Based on the best available evidence, a ban is not required. Any further restriction on the shooting of mountain hares, whether for food or for woodland/forestry protection, would create a difficult precedent for the management of deer, where thousands are culled each year for that purpose," he added.