Shooters to help study European hare’s impact

Scientists in Northern Ireland have asked for help from shooters as they investigate the impact of invasive European hares on the native Irish hare (pictured below). The research, organised by Queen?s University Belfast and funded by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, will examine the change in the European hare population in Northern Ireland since it was first surveyed in 2005 and will include an experimental control of the invasive species by shooting.

Project supervisor Dr Neil Reid said: ?We?d like the shooting community to get involved because we need volunteers to help us in our culling efforts. Carcases will be used to compare diet, disease burden and reproduction between the two species.?

The rest of this article appears in the 25th January issue of Shooting Times.

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