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Majority of British public support predator control

81% of the British public believe gamekeepers, who carry out predator control as part of their job, have a positive impact on the countryside.

By Barnaby Dracup

Thursday, 14 May 2009

New independent research shows the British public supports the control of predators to protect threatened species.

The controversial new research reveals what the British public really thinks about how birds of prey and other predators should be managed for wildlife.

The Countryside Alliance, Moorland Association and National Gamekeepers’ Organisation commissioned Opinion Research Business to conduct a representative survey of 1,004 people in the UK in a bid to discover the public’s attitude towards predator control.

The controversial results showed 80% of the public thinks there should be intervention to help declining bird species rather than “just leaving it to nature”.

60% think raptors should be controlled if they are damaging wildlife and livelihoods and 84% believe the RSPB should carry out predator control on its nature reserves.

Importantly, 81% also believe gamekeepers, who carry out predator control as part of their job, have a positive impact on the countryside.

Simon Hart, of the Countryside Alliance, noted this research shows many of the assumptions about public opinion that have driven policy and spending on wildlife management are wrong: “For years everyone from the government to the RSPB has run scared of being open and honest about the need to control some species for the benefit of others.”

“We live in a managed landscape. People understand it is necessary to control predators to protect declining species and maintain a balance.”

A spokesman for the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) said the public now clearly understand it’s necessary to keep a balance in the countryside: “These are good results and the NGO can take a lot of the credit for the change in attitudes seen over the past 10 years. The science in support of predator control has become clearer with every passing year. Now we know that people would accept changes in the law if they were necessary to conserve wildlife.”

The spokesman added it is now time for politicians to engage in a debate about what would be best for Britain’s wildlife: “The NGO will be pressing for a rational and practical approach to wildlife management.”

Edward Bromet, chairman of the Moorland Association (MA), commented the survey results are particularly important because red and amber listed game and wild birds are coming under increasing pressure from predation: “It is important that everything is done to protect these populations while maintaining a sustainable balance of all upland wildlife. We are very encouraged by the results of this survey, which clearly support our work. We feel the time is right to reassess whether protected species need to be controlled under licence in some circumstances where wildlife and livelihoods are threatened. We will continue to lobby at the highest levels to ensure conservation legislation for the future mirrors the needs of today.”

Though the RSPB also said it welcomed the results, it queried the way in which some of the survey questions were worded.

Mark Avery, the RSPB’s director of conservation, said: “Interestingly, the survey did ask whether people agreed with the killing of species such as rats and crows that can currently be legally killed - and most did, even though 22% did not.”

“But it did not ask whether people were against the illegal killing of protected wildlife species such as golden eagles. It does depend on how you ask the question.”

He added: “This research isn’t actually all that surprising. We agree with people who think it is right to help birds when they are in trouble. It is rare to use lethal control given the numerous other techniques available, but when all the other options have been explored and proven ineffective, it has to be considered. The RSPB does not have any argument with the 8 out of every 10 people who think gamekeepers have a positive impact on the countryside.”

Let us know what you think about this!

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Comments

Wildlife enthusiast

Thu, 10th Sep 2009 10:59:03

Which 'wildlife' are people saying that grouse moors protect? If these places were not used for grouse shooting then natural (unmanaged) wildlife would return e.g. natural moorland or eventually where conditions are right, forest such as caledonian pine forest with capercaille etc etc. There is space for all types of land use in the countryside, including grouse shooting I think, but perhaps we over emphasise the 'wildlife conservation' value of this habitat. The wildlife was there before the grouse moors and it is very naive to think that we need to manage nature, infact it would be totally impossible to do so!!

clifford hillier

Sun, 17th May 2009 13:22:19

At long last we see a common sense approach to our wildlife emerge. For to long the "Protect at all costs, because it cost us nothing" campaign has held far too much sway. For to long the misinformation that this country's raptors where wiped out by gamekeepers has been repeatedly peddled. Make no mistake this has been orcastrated to fit another agenda. The true culprits, DDT, Mixie and the habitat destruction of grubbing out thousands of miles of hedgerows have been in my view been deliberately over looked. This survey shows that the general public has not been taken in. What's more they are open to the idea of licensed culling, where there numbers are proven to be detrimental to other wildlife. We all want to see theses beautiful birds but there must be a balance.

Ian

Fri, 15th May 2009 11:12:55

It does sound like that survey was conducted in a biased way. What's the point of asking people if 'raptors' should be controlled without distinguishing between common and very rare raptors?

Derick

Thu, 14th May 2009 21:10:49

Lets be honest with ourselves here shall we, I really dont think this survery was very well conducted if 81% agreed that something was best not left to nature, this doesent surprise me though as once again the hunting community made sure to only hear what they wanted to hear. The problem is that you people lie to yourselves even more than you do to eachother, just admit you want to shoot birds of prey for fun and that is has nothing to do with creating a balance within nature. the human race has a very bad track record when it comes to protecting/preserving nature and we have helped to see quite a few species to the brink of extinction so please dont tell me that idiots with rifles/shotguns can do a better job of setting balance in nature than nature itself. If a predators natural prey is on the decline then it is more than likely the fault of people so perhaps it's time to turn your guns on yourselves.

matthew bennett

Thu, 14th May 2009 17:34:45

there is nothing wrong with the keepers keeping on top of the foxs ..would not suport the leathal control of rapters tho .unlike a fox the raptors do not kiil for the fun of it so loseing the odd bird to them is not as bad as a fox geting in to a pen

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