Scottish grouse moors need tougher policing, says RSPB

Despite new licences for Scottish grouse moors this season, wildlife campaigners are calling for even more robust measures to accurately map the full ecological impact of grouse shooting on wildlife. 

Revive – a coalition of wildlife charities that oppose grouse shooting — and the RSPB are calling on ministers to force gamekeepers to count the stoats, foxes, weasels and crows killed each year to protect grouse chicks. 

Andrew Gilruth, chief executive of the Moorland Association, told ST: “It’s bizarre that the RSPB — which publishes no information about the thousands of stoats, ferrets or rats it kills each year — feels it can demand that others do so. Driven grouse shooting is one of the world’s most successful conservation projects and we have almost every upland species imaginable on our moors.” 

The licensing process has already become embroiled in various disputes elsewhere, as several rural organisations have been angered by NatureScot’s decision to include parts of farms and estates that are not involved in game shooting in the licensing scheme. 

Peter Clark, BASC’s Scotland director, said NatureScot had rushed into implementing shooting licences without taking the time to prepare properly. 

“We envisaged something would go wrong, and something has,” he added.