This Spring, Team Kelpies are celebrating the publication of Maisie the Mountain Hare: the brand new picture book by Lynne Rickards and Abigail Hookham. Starring Maisie and Archie (two young mountain hares) alongside their mum and their best friend Thomas the Ptarmigan, this gorgeously illustrated rhyming story gently introduces young readers to themes of conservation and climate change. Today we’re delighted to host a guest post from Emily Gilford at The Mammal Society, who is here to tell us more about the important work they do in monitoring and conserving mountain hares in Scotland.

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Where, Oh Where is the Mountain Hare?

Emily Gilford
Data and Information Officer at the Mammal Society
(info@themammalsociety.org)

Mountain hares are Britain’s only native member of the hare and rabbit family, and are mostly restricted to the Scottish uplands.

In recent years there have been growing concerns about the population of the species. Mountain hares face a number of threats including reduced habitat due to changes in land use and competition for resources with brown hares. They are classed as Near Threatened in Scotland on the UK Red List of Mammal Species.

The Volunteer Mountain Hare Survey is run by the Mammal Society in collaboration with the British Trust for Ornithology, NatureScot and the Game & Wildlife Trust, investigating how a national monitoring scheme could help to monitor the species in future.

The survey is conducted by citizen scientists, which means any member of the general public that is based in, or visiting, Scotland. Compared to other areas of Britain, less is known about the wildlife of Scotland’s Highlands because this area is more remote, so working with large numbers of volunteers who don’t need previous experience means that more ground can be covered. This really helps us to learn more about the distribution of such a tricky-to-spot species: like Maisie the Mountain Hare and her brother Archie, mountain hares blend in with their surroundings, and are very effective at hiding to avoid threats and predators.

 

 

Surveying for hares as part of the survey can be is as easy as taking a walk and keeping an eye out for any signs of mountain hares that you may come across, such as droppings, pawprints, or even an actual hare if you’re lucky! Records can then be submitted as part of a ‘Hare Ramble’ or ‘Rambling Survey‘. Surveyors who would prefer something more structured can sign up for a ‘Hare Square’, which means you register for a dedicated 1km square and regularly look for any signs of hares that might be found there.

In 2021, our fantastic hare explorers trekked across 1,465km, recording their hare data on our Mammal Mapper App. Thanks to these records we now know even more about where the hares are. We’ve even discovered some new areas that they live in, including near Loch Ewe in the North West Highlands which was previously outside of their known distribution.

You can see some example signs of mountain hare activity in these photos taken by our Vice Chair, Derek Crawley (click to enlarge):

 

If you and your little ones have enjoyed reading about Maisie, Archie and their Mum, we’d be delighted for you to get involved with our ongoing Volunteer Mountain Hare Survey! You can find out more about how to get involved at www.mammal.org.uk/mountainhareproject/. As part of the survey, we’d also love to know what else you see on your adventures in Scotland, including Thomas the ptarmigan and his friends, and even any eagles!

About the Mammal Society:

One in four of our native mammals is threatened with extinction, and many others are in decline. Britain now recognised as one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, and urgent action is needed. The Mammal Society is working to give our wildlife a better future by:

• Keeping a constant watch on the conservation status of our mammals and making this information freely available
• Making conservation more effective by providing guidance on what to do and where to do it
• Educating the public and professionals about wild mammals, training people to survey them, and sharing the latest research
• Working in partnership to restore native mammal populations and re-establish functional ecosystem

The Mammal Society is the only charity with an interest in all British mammals. The Mammal Society’s conservation work is supported through the generosity of our supporters. A list of our current and past projects can be found here. To join the Mammal Society visit our website. Recent Mammal Society publications include: The State of Mammals in Wales and the Atlas of the Mammals of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

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About Maisie the Mountain Hare

 

Maisie the mountain hare loves playing hide and seek with her brother Archie and their friend Thomas the ptarmigan. Archie is the best at hiding and Maisie has the keenest eyes. As the baby hares grow, their coats turn white to help them camouflage in winter. But with no snow in sight, the siblings are in danger. Can Maisie and Archie work together to stay safe?

Written in Lynne Rickards‘ signature rhyme, this is a playful tale of friendship and teamwork. Abigail Hookham‘s dynamic illustrations of Scottish animals and heather-covered Cairngorm landscapes are full of detail and character.

From the author of best-selling Skye the Puffling and Rowan the Red Squirrel, and the creators of Oran the Curious Otter, Maisie the Mountain Hare is a fun and lively celebration of Scotland’s amazing mountain wildlife.