Crop Field Wildlife and Harvest Mortality

Agricultural harvesting of crops causes significant mortality and welfare harm to wildlife living in arable fields, including mammals, birds and invertebrates, with management options available to reduce harm.

Key Facts

An estimated 25 to 27 million wild animals are killed annually by UK agricultural machinery during crop harvesting
Combine harvesters kill brown hares, leverets, partridge chicks, skylarks and many other species during harvesting
Cutting hay and silage outside the bird nesting season or using flushing bars reduces bird mortality significantly
Brown hare leverets are particularly vulnerable as they lie motionless in crops rather than fleeing from machinery
The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and GWCT have developed wildlife-sensitive harvesting protocols

Welfare Considerations

Crop harvest mortality represents one of the largest but least visible sources of agricultural wildlife welfare harm. Animals killed instantly by machinery suffer acute death; those injured and left in the field may suffer for extended periods. Brown hare leverets lying motionless are run over because they do not flee. Partridge and skylark chicks on nests are destroyed when crops are cut. The availability of mitigation measures — cutting from the centre of fields outward, using flushing bars, cutting at appropriate times and speeds — means that much of this mortality is preventable at modest cost. Welfare-conscious farming practice includes attention to harvest timing and method as well as to the conditions of kept livestock.

What You Can Do

Support farms that use wildlife-friendly harvesting protocols through purchasing certified products
Advocate for harvest welfare protocols to be included in farm assurance scheme requirements
Engage with farmers in your network about wildlife-sensitive harvesting practice
Support the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust research on harvest wildlife mortality reduction at www.gwct.org.uk
Create field margin habitat that provides refuge areas outside harvested crop areas