IT is an iconic upland species, famed for its camouflage.
Now new methodology is to be used to count mountain hares in a bid to better record and assess their populations.
The population is thought to have been around 135,000, amid concerns it may have been falling.
There have also been fears the species - which blends into the heather with a grey-brown coat with a tinge of blue in summer, and changes to almost complete white in the winter to blend in with the snow - is at risk of disappearing from its upland Scotland home, as warmer climes threaten to transform its habitats.
The creatures have also been the targets of some controversial culls by landowners who blame the animals for the spread of tick-borne diseases.
In a joint sector statement today, The British Association for Shooting and Conservation, the Scottish Countryside Alliance, Scottish Land & Estates, the Scottish Association for Country Sports and the Scottish Gamekeepers Association said the developments are a "game-changer" in tackling a controversial issue.
New training methods and innovative technology - an innovative app - will be used to survey sites that land managers believe will enable better recording of populations and allow for more sophisticated advice on management.
Increased surveying of hare populations will also contribute to a better understanding of the overall conservation status of mountain hares, they said, adding that the sites surveyed under the new methodology have recorded encouraging numbers of hares on areas managed for driven grouse shooting, which is consistent with previous research.
The app is being rolled out to Scottish estates to allow collection of hare population statistics which can be evaluated and inform expert advice on levels of hare management.
The first set of data recorded under the new system showed an average of 13.7 mountain hares encountered per kilometre walked by the surveyors, based on the first 27 sites surveyed.
Ross Macleod, of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, said: “We believe that this will become the default means of recording numbers and making a return, removing the need to write out count cards and send them in for further input.
"Most importantly, this will enable us to build up a prompt, accurate picture of the number of mountain hares on properties undertaking counts."
Alex Hogg, Chairman of the Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association, said:
“Keepers have been very willing to adopt this approach favoured by the scientists and conservation bodies. We have always recorded data on mountain hare populations but it is certainly worthwhile to use the same system across the whole of Scotland and to be able to instantly record counts and upload the data for analysis."
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