10 years surveys of mountain hares in England.
2017 – 2026: 1200+ km straight line transects. 3300+ records.
Supported by Hare Preservation Trust @ptes-org.bsky.social and Kind People.
Last report 58% decline
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
2025-26 decline.
Surveys resume 2027

Some recent Easter bunnies to enjoy. Mountain hares (Lepus timidus) from the Peak District, England

I got a citation!
Our painful research conducted during freezing “Beast from the East” deep-snow winter on Holme Moss, Yorkshire
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
Cited by world mountain hare expert Carl-Gustaf Thulin - an honour!
www.researchgate.net/publication/...

New paper! How food source locations drive species distributions. In 2019 I was fortunate to work Flower Creek, Cabinets, Montana. I admit I ate too much of the focus of these vegetation surveys: huckleberries.
But I left plenty for the grizzlies ...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....

Mountain hare surveys, Peak District, England.
Now in tenth year!
Last report showed 80% population decline 2017-2024. See here.
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
Surveys 2025 showed continuing drop.
Will it continue? Stay tuned.
@ptes-org.bsky.social

(PDF) Standardising Landscape Connectivity: A Climate Change Game Changer PDF | Climate change and habitat fragmentation compromise metapopulation processes for vulnerable species. We must identify species dispersal routes as... | Find, read and cite all the research you ne...

Connectivity mapping with Circuitscape? Faithful representation of data + innovative colour scheme accentuates species connectivity value areas.
Poster here:
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
Underlying research paper link here:
www.researchgate.net/publication/...

Provides insight for locations needing protection, habitat restoration or species reintroductions. Example: the White Peak, Derbyshire UK
For more information or collaboration, please reach out to me

Comparisons of species connectivity value land with the National Character Area Framework.

Species connectivity pathways reducing, becoming diffuse, a north/south divide opening up, as species disperse to favoured climes.

Addresses nationally important vulnerable species: butterflies, moths, curlew, dipper, marsh tit, willow tit, hazel dormouse, otter, water vole – and more!

New paper!
Possibly (one of) the first ever portrayals of circuit theory species connectivity, stacked for multi-species, over three climate change scenarios.
doi.org/10.1002/ece3...
Written by moi with some amazing friends @chrissuthy.bsky.social

Seven Year Decline of Mountain Hare Abundance in the Peak District, England From 2017 to 2024, systematic transect surveys of the only mountain hare population in England showed a statistically significant continual decline of 58%. It is not known whether this decrease is sy...

For more info
doi.org/10.1002/ece3... Seven year decline of mountain hares
dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ac... Mountain and brown hare ecological niches

BBC Two - Springwatch, 2025, Episode 9 Iolo Williams lands in Mount Stewart, the final stop of his Northern Irish road trip.

Peak District mountain hares on BBC Springwatch 2025 Episode 9
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
great photos & a very cool model montage of mountain hare and brown hare competition.
Impressive interpretation of peer reviewed research, authored by moi.

hare whisperin, Scottish Borders

totally amazing! inspirational!

Peak District UK ~1,000 mountain hares hares = viable..?? Causes of mortality unknown. If decline not arrested, soon extinct?

Mountain hares persisting on Bleaklow, disappearing on Margery Hill.

Mountain hare abundance - 58% drop

Compelling distance sampling results. If you need help interpreting survey protocols & analysis, as always, be welcome to reach out to me

Daytime surveys = highly effective = 1 in 5 of population white hares visible against brown vegetation, to range >500 metres.

Surveys 2017 to 2024 covered 960km, recording 2,589 mountain hares.

Seven Year Decline of Mountain Hare Abundance in the Peak District, England From 2017 to 2024, systematic transect surveys of the only mountain hare population in England showed a statistically significant continual decline of 58%. It is not known whether this decrease is sy...

New paper! Statistically significant decline of mountain hares Peak District, UK
Population cyclicity or nearing extinction? Are they disappearing?
dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3...

2025 surveys mountain hares, Peak District, England - finished. Lowest counts since started 2017....

fox

From 2025 survey day #6 Peak District UK. #mountainhare white pelage camo mismatch, predator vulnerable, is a noon snooze worth the risk...?

Tricky balance, when so many species declining = requires urgency, so accepting single replicate when its obvious = sensible. Yet nature is complex, some systems need deep research & statistical description. Do we have time for that... (?)

Survey day #10. Systematic repeat transects. Brutal waist deep heather. Since 9 years, lowest mountain hare count ever

Happy National #mountainhare Day !!!
yes we still care about these things... don't we ... ?

Survey day #2 effort=11km, mountain hare observations = 11

We've now got the green light to revamp this booklet and we're looking for volunteers to write/peer review sections. Express your interest here: forms.gle/ZYFLPaC3k2RF.... We want to feature diverse ECR writers from across the world. Women of colour are especially encouraged!