Birds of prey including hen harriers, peregrines, and red kites continue to be illegally poisoned, shot, and trapped on grouse moors in the UK, with severe consequences for populations and individual welfare.
Raptor persecution involves methods including poisoning, shooting, trapping, and nest destruction that cause direct suffering to individual birds. Poisoned raptors experience a prolonged and painful death; trapped birds experience fear and injury. Beyond individual suffering, the suppression of entire populations through sustained persecution deprives birds of the territories and social environments they need, and reduces ecosystem function dependent on apex predators. The persistence of illegal killing despite public condemnation reflects the inadequacy of current enforcement and the need for structural reform of moorland management incentives.