Spotting mammals

Mountain hares

Most people know of the brown hare, "the Mad March Hare", but fewer are aware of the mountain hare. In Ireland, however, this is the only hare and it is abundant on farmland where grass is short - Lough Neagh is noted for them. In Scotland and England they thrive on managed grouse moors, where they hide in thick heather but eat the young shoots that sprout on newly burnt patches. The Scottish mountain hare turns white in winter while the Irish one may not change colour at all, or just becomes piebald. It is largely found in the Scottish Highlands - hot spots are Glenmuick and, in summer, on the northwest side of Glas Maol and on the southern tip of Cairnwell, with a small population in the Peak District along the Derwent Edges.