Capercaillie are critically threatened in Scotland with fewer than 1,500 individuals remaining, and recreational disturbance during breeding season is a major welfare and conservation concern.
Capercaillie flushed during the lek by walkers, dogs, or skiers experience acute stress during a period when energy conservation is critical to breeding success. Birds colliding with deer fences suffer traumatic injuries and death. Dogs chasing capercaillie cause direct mortality through physical trauma or cardiac stress. The extremely small population means welfare incidents affecting individuals have disproportionate conservation consequences. Winter recreation at sensitive lek sites poses welfare risks to a species with very limited population recovery capacity.