Report states the case for grouse moor regulation to be introduced in order to bring to an end to the widespread persecution of birds of prey
A new report has nailed the link between the persecution of birds of prey and grouse moor management.
The Illegal Killing of Birds of Prey in Scotland 2015-17, published by RSPB Scotland, details the clear associations between the decline or absence of raptors in the country’s uplands and wildlife crime.
It states the case for grouse moor regulation to be introduced in order to bring to an end to the widespread persecution of birds of prey.
The report brings together evidence from police investigations, scientific research and eye-witness accounts and shows that the vast majority of these raptor killing incidents are occurring in areas of Scotland’s uplands managed for intensive driven grouse shooting.
Such crimes are continuing to adversely impact the populations and ranges of several bird of prey species.
A national survey of the UK’s hen harriers, undertaken in 2016, revealed that Scotland’s breeding population had fallen by 9% since 2010, and that the number on grouse moors had plummeted by 57%.
A further study, published in 2016 and commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage, confirmed that the sustained level of illegal killing remains the major factor preventing the growth of northern Scotland’s red kite population.
Yet, despite robust wildlife crime legislation, improved to a large extent since 1999 by the Scottish Parliament, there have been very few prosecutions. Only five individuals were convicted of offences related to raptor persecution in these three years.
Most crimes take place in isolated rural areas, concealed from the public eye, and with perpetrators who have become increasingly adept in covering their tracks to prevent detection.
However, the decisions by the Crown Office to drop four prosecutions linked to raptor persecution offences during this period raises the question of whether current wildlife protection legislation is fit for purpose, or if new laws are needed to allow more effective enforcement, and to act as a genuine deterrent.
"There is clear and repeated evidence that this criminal activity is largely taking place on Scotland’s grouse moors, but the grouse industry has not addressed this long-standing and endemic problem; instead we are seeing increasing signs of a culture where some grouse moor managers feel, and act, as if they are untouchable. We believe that the majority of the Scottish public have had enough; repeated warnings from government have not been heeded, and the time must be right for tougher action.”
Bob Elliot, director of OneKind, which is also part of the multi-NGO Revive coalition for grouse moor reform, said: “The RSPB Scotland report clearly demonstrates, once again, that real reform is needed in our upland areas, particularly those dominated by gamekeepers and intensive driven grouse shooting.
"In order to maintain high numbers of wild red grouse to shoot, grouse moor managers kill anything that is seen to be a threat to the birds.
"Gamekeepers must kill foxes, stoats, weasels and crows in substantial numbers to keep red grouse numbers artificially high so that they can be shot for fun. Gamekeepers are free to kill as many of these species as they wish with no scrutiny nor reporting regimes whatsoever, and the methods used to kill our wildlife are grim. Spring traps, crow traps, shooting, plus the use of wire snares set for foxes, are all cruel killing methods still being used in Scotland’s countryside today.
"These attitudes have their roots in traditional pastimes and practices – but in the 21st century there is a growing awareness that they cannot be accepted any longer.“
