Latest news with #grouseshooting
The Independent
13 hours ago
- The Independent
Record number of rare hen harriers killed or missing in the past five years, RSPB warns
Record numbers of hen harriers have been killed or gone missing under suspicious circumstances in the last five years, according to the RSPB. The protected bird species is one of the rarest in the UK, known for their acrobatic 'skydancing' courtship display over the uplands, such as Forest of Bowland in Lancashire and the Yorkshire Dales. A total of 102 the protected birds of prey were illegally killed or went missing between 2020 and 2024 – mostly in areas where grouse shooting takes place, the RSPB says. Some hen harriers were shot and their chicks being stamped on, while others were poisoned or illegally trapped, according to the charity. In Scotland, grouse moors are licensed, and conservationists have repeatedly pressured Westminster governments to do the same. When Labour was in opposition, it indicated that it would consider licensing grouse shooting in England. MPs are due on Monday to debate calls for a ban on driven grouse shooting after a petition launched by campaign group Wild Justice attracted more than 100,000 names. But in its response, the government said it had no plans for a ban. It said: 'Well-managed grouse shooting can be an important part of a local rural economy, providing direct and indirect employment.' The RSPB's report, called Hen Harriers in the Firing Line, highlights a strong overlap between deaths of the bird of prey and the extent of grouse moors. A recent study of illegal killings found that survival rates were unusually low, with birds surviving for an average of just 121 days after leaving the nest. Persecution accounts for 75 per cent of deaths in birds aged between one and two years. Hen harriers, a red-listed species that breeds in Britain's uplands, is the most persecuted bird of prey in the UK for its population and numbers are heading towards local extinction, the wildlife charity says. Numerous studies confirm that illegal killing limits their recovery. But no one in England has ever been convicted of killing one because most kills happen in remote areas and a criminal burden of proof near-impossible to secure, campaigners say. James Robinson, of the RSPB, said: 'This species will not recover until the criminal activity stops, and for this to happen we need regulation of the grouse shooting industry – specifically the introduction of a licensing system for shoots in England, so estates proven by the police and Natural England to be linked to raptor persecution would lose their licence to operate.' Andrew Gilruth, chief executive of the Moorland Association, disputed the RSPB report, saying the data has been assembled without independent checks and that the allegations 'poison perceptions of gamekeepers'. The British Association for Shooting and Conservation said the report presented 'unproven allegations as evidence'. Its statement said: 'Proposals for a licensing system based on a civil burden of proof risk punishing the law-abiding without due process. 'Instead, we support constructive, evidence-led solutions such as Natural England's Hen Harrier Action Plan.' A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson said: "Hen harriers are a rare and precious feature of our national landscapes. 'It's why through our work with the National Wildlife Crime Unit, the Hen Harrier Taskforce is using innovative technology such as drones and specialised detection dogs to help tackle illegal persecution.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Number of hen harriers killed or missing at new high, RSPB warns
Record numbers of hen harriers have been killed or gone missing under suspicious circumstances in the last five years, according to the RSPB. The protected bird species is one of the rarest in the UK, known for their acrobatic 'skydancing' courtship display over the uplands, such as Forest of Bowland in Lancashire and the Yorkshire Dales. Categorised as red-listed in terms of conservation concern, they are considered to be at high risk of extinction because of low breeding population levels following historic declines as a result of human persecution. Between 2020 and 2024, there were 102 incidents of killing or missing birds recorded, according to a report from the RSPB released on Thursday. The majority of these incidents occurred on or near grouse moors in northern England, where grouse shooting takes place, it said. The charity is calling on the Government to introduce licensing of grouse shooting in England, as has happened in Scotland, to act as a meaningful deterrent to wildlife crime. It comes ahead of a parliamentary debate at Westminster Hall on Monday over the future of grouse shooting, triggered by a petition launched by campaign group Wild Justice that gained more than 100,000 signatures. Over the last 25 years, conservationists rolled out several initiatives to support the endangered species and the population increased between 2016 and 2023. But 2023 became the worst recorded year for persecution with 34 birds confirmed to have been killed or disappeared under suspicious circumstances, according to the RSPB. There was a 43% decline in the number of chicks fledging in 2024 when compared to 2023 figures, the report said. The number of breeding females recorded in 2024 also dropped from 50 in 2023 to 34 in 2024 – a 32% fall. The charity said the current UK population estimate represents a quarter of the potential population that their ideal habitat can support, and in England it is less – at about 10%. Despite being legally protected, multiple studies and reports have found that criminal activity is the main factor limiting the species' recovery. The RSPB report contains details of hen harriers being shot, their chicks being stamped on and one bird having its head pulled off while still alive. It also includes 112 satellite-tagged birds disappearing on or near grouse moors between 2010 and 2024. No one in England has ever been convicted of an offence, the RSPB said, adding that most crimes take place in remote areas where such activity is hard to detect and the criminal burden of proof against the perpetrators is difficult to secure. Dr James Robinson, the RSPB's director of operations, said: 'This species will not recover until the criminal activity stops, and for this to happen we need regulation of the grouse-shooting industry, specifically the introduction of a licensing system for shoots in England, so estates proven by the police and Natural England to be linked to raptor persecution would simply lose their licence to operate.' Another recent study, which investigated the illegal killing of hen harriers in association with gamebird management, showed that the survival rates of the birds in the UK are 'unusually low'. The birds live for an average of just 121 days after leaving the nest while persecution accounts for 27-41% of deaths of those aged under one year and 75% of deaths in birds aged between one and two years, the study found. It also highlighted a strong overlap between hen harrier mortality and the extent of grouse moors. Scotland's Wildlife Management and Muirburn Act, passed last year, requires all grouse shoots in the country to have a licence to operate, which can be revoked if evidence suggests a crime has been committed. Licensing is based on evidence to a civil burden of proof, meaning that it is also easier to take action when persecution has taken place. Andrew Gilruth, chief executive of the Moorland Association, disputed the RSPB report, saying the data has been assembled without independent checks and that the allegations 'poison perceptions of gamekeepers'. An Environment Department spokesperson said: 'Hen harriers are a rare and precious feature of our national landscapes. 'It's why through our work with the National Wildlife Crime Unit, the Hen Harrier Taskforce is using innovative technology such as drones and specialist detection dogs to help tackle illegal persecution.'
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Record number of hen harriers killed or missing in northern England
A record number of hen harriers have been killed or have gone missing in suspicious circumstances over the past five years, the RSPB has protected bird species is one of the rarest in the UK, known for their acrobatic "skydancing" courtship display over the uplands, such as Forest of Bowland in Lancashire and the Yorkshire James Robinson from the RSPB called for regulation of the grouse-shooting industry after 102 birds were killed or went missing on or near grouse moors in northern England between 2020 and Environment Department has been contacted for comment. Hen harriers are one of the rarest species of bird in the UK and are categorised as red-listed in terms of conservation are considered to be at high risk of extinction because of low breeding population levels following historic declines as a result of human persecution, the RSPB being legally protected, multiple studies and reports have found that criminal activity is the main factor limiting the species' RSPB report issued earlier contains details of hen harriers being shot, their chicks being stamped on and one bird having its head pulled off while still Robinson said: "This species will not recover until the criminal activity stops".The charity is calling on the government to introduce licensing of grouse shooting in England, as has happened in Scotland, to act as a meaningful deterrent to wildlife comes ahead of a parliamentary debate at Westminster Hall on Monday over the future of grouse shooting, triggered by a petition launched by campaign group Wild Justice that gained more than 100,000 the last 25 years, conservationists rolled out several initiatives to support the endangered species and the population increased between 2016 and 2023. But 2023 became the worst recorded year for persecution with 34 birds confirmed to have been killed or disappeared under suspicious circumstances, according to the was a 43% decline in the number of chicks fledging in 2024 when compared to 2023 figures, the report number of breeding females recorded dropped from 50 in 2023 to 34 in 2024 – a 32% also includes 112 satellite-tagged birds disappearing on or near grouse moors between 2010 and one in England has ever been convicted of an offence, the RSPB said, adding that most crimes take place in remote areas where such activity is hard to detect and the criminal burden of proof against the perpetrators is difficult to secure. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Number of hen harriers killed or missing at new high, RSPB warns
Record numbers of hen harriers have been killed or gone missing under suspicious circumstances in the last five years, according to the RSPB. The protected bird species is one of the rarest in the UK, known for their acrobatic 'skydancing' courtship display over the uplands, such as Forest of Bowland in Lancashire and the Yorkshire Dales. Categorised as red-listed in terms of conservation concern, they are considered to be at high risk of extinction because of low breeding population levels following historic declines as a result of human persecution. Between 2020 and 2024, there were 102 incidents of killing or missing birds recorded, according to a report from the RSPB released on Thursday. The majority of these incidents occurred on or near grouse moors in northern England, where grouse shooting takes place, it said. The charity is calling on the Government to introduce licensing of grouse shooting in England, as has happened in Scotland, to act as a meaningful deterrent to wildlife crime. It comes ahead of a parliamentary debate at Westminster Hall on Monday over the future of grouse shooting, triggered by a petition launched by campaign group Wild Justice that gained more than 100,000 signatures. Over the last 25 years, conservationists rolled out several initiatives to support the endangered species and the population increased between 2016 and 2023. But 2023 became the worst recorded year for persecution with 34 birds confirmed to have been killed or disappeared under suspicious circumstances, according to the RSPB. There was a 43% decline in the number of chicks fledging in 2024 when compared to 2023 figures, the report said. The number of breeding females recorded in 2024 also dropped from 50 in 2023 to 34 in 2024 – a 32% fall. The charity said the current UK population estimate represents a quarter of the potential population that their ideal habitat can support, and in England it is less – at about 10%. Despite being legally protected, multiple studies and reports have found that criminal activity is the main factor limiting the species' recovery. The RSPB report contains details of hen harriers being shot, their chicks being stamped on and one bird having its head pulled off while still alive. It also includes 112 satellite-tagged birds disappearing on or near grouse moors between 2010 and 2024. No one in England has ever been convicted of an offence, the RSPB said, adding that most crimes take place in remote areas where such activity is hard to detect and the criminal burden of proof against the perpetrators is difficult to secure. Dr James Robinson, the RSPB's director of operations, said: 'This species will not recover until the criminal activity stops, and for this to happen we need regulation of the grouse-shooting industry, specifically the introduction of a licensing system for shoots in England, so estates proven by the police and Natural England to be linked to raptor persecution would simply lose their licence to operate.' Another recent study, which investigated the illegal killing of hen harriers in association with gamebird management, showed that the survival rates of the birds in the UK are 'unusually low'. The birds live for an average of just 121 days after leaving the nest while persecution accounts for 27-41% of deaths of those aged under one year and 75% of deaths in birds aged between one and two years, the study found. It also highlighted a strong overlap between hen harrier mortality and the extent of grouse moors. Scotland's Wildlife Management and Muirburn Act, passed last year, requires all grouse shoots in the country to have a licence to operate, which can be revoked if evidence suggests a crime has been committed. Licensing is based on evidence to a civil burden of proof, meaning that it is also easier to take action when persecution has taken place. Andrew Gilruth, chief executive of the Moorland Association, disputed the RSPB report, saying the data has been assembled without independent checks and that the allegations 'poison perceptions of gamekeepers'. An Environment Department spokesperson said: 'Hen harriers are a rare and precious feature of our national landscapes. 'It's why through our work with the National Wildlife Crime Unit, the Hen Harrier Taskforce is using innovative technology such as drones and specialist detection dogs to help tackle illegal persecution.'
BBC News
21-05-2025
- BBC News
Hen harriers feared killed after vanishing from Cumbria reserve
Two rare birds which disappeared from their nests are suspected of having been killed, says the at the conservation charity have reported being "sickened" by the sudden loss of the male hen harriers from its Geltsdale Nature Reserve in Cumbria. The pair's disappearance has left the chicks in the nests in need of food, dampening hopes of a successful 2025 breeding charity said hen harriers were often targets for rogue gamekeepers trying to protect commercial grouse stocks from being preyed upon, adding: "This killing has to stop." It also said the disappearance had been reported to Cumbria for their acrobatic courtship displays, hen harriers are categorised as a red-listed species in the UK due to the declining breeding local team is currently providing food to the female at one of the nests at Geltsdale - which is surrounded by grouse moors - in a desperate attempt to save the chicks. Fears over the latest losses, which occurred within days of each other, come after a previous male was found fatally shot on neighbouring land in spring 2023.A police investigation into that death was unable to prove who had been responsible. The RSPB is also renewing calls for England to follow Scotland's lead with regard to tougher regulation of grouse-shooting Speight, RSPB chief executive, said: "It is truly sickening to lose these particular birds from Geltsdale in such a short space of time."The last five years have seen a high count of crimes against hen harriers with 102 suspected or confirmed incidents, the majority happening on or close to grouse moors."This killing has to stop." She added that "for these magnificent birds to ever have a sustainable population in England", estates proven to be linked to raptor persecution "would simply lose their licence to operate".
