Peregrine falcons have made a dramatic recovery since DDT bans in the 1970s but continue to face illegal persecution on driven grouse moors, preventing recovery in some upland areas.
Illegal persecution of peregrines causes direct welfare harm through shooting and trapping injuries, and nest destruction that kills eggs and dependent chicks. Satellite tracking data showing disappearances concentrated over specific moor types provides compelling evidence of systematic illegal killing. Individual peregrines that survive persecution attempts may carry injuries that compromise future survival and reproduction. The legal protection framework is clear but enforcement is challenging without witnesses or physical evidence. Camera traps at known persecution hotspots and investment in wildlife crime investigation capacity represent the most effective welfare protection for peregrines in upland Britain.