We have been told by a number of sources now that the mountain hare cull has started and that the appeals from the Cabinet Secretary and Environment Minister have gone unheeded. We are checking these out but if this is the case then the game shooting industry has ignored the will of the Scottish Parliament and pleas from Scottish Government to show restraint. As well as the damage to an endangered species, a cull would seriously damage the political credibility of Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham. She has previously been a steady if rather conservative pair of hands and has achieved more than many of her predecessors. A gamble that the grouse shooting industry would listen to her appeals for restraint was always risky and looks as if it may not have paid off. The appetite for Scottish independence has never been greater BUT the SNP is no longer the only party in town and Roseanna will not relish being made a to look a fool as the game shooting industry rung rings around her.

We will watch the situation with interest.

If you have any information of mountain hare culls or any other mammal related persecution then do get in touch.