Mountain Hare
Lepus Timidus
This one was possibly/probably clipped by a vehicle above Bamford
The mountain hare population in the Peak is the only one in England and was probably translocated here in the 1870’s from Scotland
Their decline in numbers here is very very significant. Estimates put the population at 3562 in 2017 and reduced to 1038 in 2024
Researchers at @naturalengland and @manmetuni estimate that at that rate of decline the species will disappear from the Peak ‘within the next few years’.
The species does best here on areas of restored peat bog
Climate change is one of several factors leading to the stark reduction in numbers – coat colour mismatch aka the hare turning white but the terrain remaining brown / green – makes the hare more vulnerable to predators
You can see this animal was mid moult when it was killed
There is an excellent paper titled ‘Seven Year Decline of Mountain Hare Abundance in the Peak District, England’ by Dr Carlos Bedson et al published in ‘Ecology and Evolution’ Volume 15 Issue 3 (google it for an online copy) which dives deep in to this wonderful animal and the reason for its demise hereabouts
Next time you’re up high in the restored groughs and cloughs of the upper Dark Peak this winter have yourself a sit and a wait and a look …. patience pays