Driven Grouse Shooting

This golden eagle was seen flying over the village of Crathie, which borders the edge of the Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire (Police Scotland), “‘Sickening’: Golden eagle spotted near royal family’s Balmoral estate with illegal trap attached to legs – ‘Absolutely clear this incident is a result of criminality’, says RSPB, as focus on raptor persecution increases at start of grouse shooting season,” The Independent, 14 August 2019

We have seen the illegal persecution/attrition of birds of prey reported in the past weeks – “87 bird crime incidents last year and just one conviction, says RSPB,” The Guardian, 29 August 2019 – the incidents were mostly recorded in upland areas where land is managed for driven grouse shooting.

Even those caught and successfully prosecuted avoid any serious penalty or deterrent – “Scottish gamekeeper who killed protected birds of prey avoids jail,” The Guardian,  19 August 2019

Therefore, Wild Justice’s campaign to limit the driven grouse shooting activities is welcomed:

Petition to the UK Government (UK Citizens Only) – “Ban Driven Grouse Shooting  – Wilful blindness is no longer an option” 

There is another way the so-called ‘sport’ can be tolerated perhaps, that reduces the negative impacts of industrial scale production for driven grouse hunting – “Eagles need to eat too’: grouse moors take new approach to shooting Big Highland estates turn away from driven shooting in the name of rewilding,” The Guardian, 11 August 2019

Further Reading

“Scottish conservation agency accused of undermining law to protect birds of prey,” The Guardian, 14 November 2024

“Collateral Damage – The Rodenticide Stewardship Scheme – is it working?” Wild Justice, 10 November 2024

“Today we publish a report which reveals that levels of rat poisons found in birds of prey, Red Kites and Buzzards, have risen alarmingly in recent years despite a government-endorsed scheme which aims to reduce their levels. Yet again, Wild Justice is blowing the whistle on failure of government and its agencies to protect wildlife.”

“Loophole exempts 355 landowners in England from inheritance tax, data shows,” The Guardian, 29 October 2024

“…at least seven grouse moor estates gain this extra money [a loophole called the “tax-exempt heritage assets scheme”, under which landowners can register land and property as heritage assets and make them exempt from inheritance tax] in return for giving the public access to moorland that they are legally bound to give.”

“Wild Justice: the ‘noisy’ activists still ruffling feathers two years on,” The Guardian, 14 February 2021

“Scottish grouse moor owners face mandatory licensing,” The Guardian, 19 December 2019

“Defra to review release of game birds after legal threat,” The Guardian, 12 September 2019 – another legal case pursued by Wild Justice

“The Defra-consultation on general licences,” Mark Avery of Wild Justice – another legal case pursued by Wild Justice