Please sign and more importantly share share share this petition to reclassify the Isle of Man mountain hare as a protected species. They are in decline across the British isles. Let's make this one more excuse for people to visit our beautiful biosphere. 

The isle of man government is currently consulting a new animal welfare bill 2021

It has raised a discussion that mountain hares are currently classed as vermin but environment minister Geoffrey Boot would like to classify them as game. 

The Manx Wildlife Trust made this statement on their Facebook

Numbers of mountain hares are in decline in the British Isles due to loss of habitat and climate change. We therefore recommend mountain hares be classified as ‘protected’ rather than ‘game’. Any potential damage that mountain hares may cause to trees could be mitigated with the use of tree protectors rather than requiring management through hunting.’

Further protection for hares also has the backing of former MHK and MLC David Cretney who reminded residents of DEFA’s previous attempts to expand the hunting season for grey partridges. 

He said

‘I was surprised to see suggestions about the status of mountain hares. I knew neither the Tynwald committee nor the DEFA committee I chaired had considered this and emailed the Department to enquire. I was informed that the provisions relating to mountain hares were suggested as a consequence of other work the Department undertook in relation to game legislation for grey partridges in mid 2020. Remember that? Not a lot to do with animal welfare as is the present suggestion.’

Sign the petition, save our mountain hare from blood sports.

Don't forget to seek out the consultation and have your views known there too.