The capercaillie, Europe's largest grouse, survives only in the Scottish Caledonian pine forest. With fewer than 500 birds remaining, every individual's welfare is critical to the survival of this species in the UK.
Capercaillie welfare at current population size is existential — the loss of even a handful of breeding males from the UK population represents a significant welfare and population viability concern. Key welfare threats include: predation (especially by pine martens, which have increased in the same habitat), disturbance from walkers and mountain bikers near leks and nests, deer fencing collision mortality, and habitat quality deterioration. Volunteer disturbance management at key lek sites during spring — seasonal path closures and ranger presence — directly protects individual capercaillie from welfare harm. Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park has implemented temporary access restrictions at capercaillie sites with measurable breeding success improvements.