The year of the rabbit.

Peak District Moorland Group

Just in time for the year of the rabbit, it is of course one our Mountain Hares thriving on moorland, managed with a grouse shooting interest.

Mountain Hare were re-introduced 150 years ago to the Peak District for sporting purposes and have remained ever since - habitat management and predator control are key factors in its success.

Areas that don’t carry out these important interventions benefit from neighbours that do…the “warming effect”.

In common with other species, Mountain Hare go through natural peaks and troughs of population numbers, since last year many estates have sent dead hares, which have been found, away for post mortem analysis (facilitated by National Gamekeepers Organisation) to see if there are parasitic or viral reasons for their deaths.