Red Grouse Welfare and Muirburn Management

Red grouse are managed intensively on driven grouse moors in Britain, and welfare concerns include parasitic disease management, predator control methods, and the ecological impacts of muirburn.

Key Facts

Red grouse are endemic to Britain and Ireland and are not found naturally elsewhere
Driven grouse moors require intensive management including heather burning and predator control
Louping ill virus and strongyle worm infestations are major welfare challenges for grouse
Muirburn - rotational burning of heather - creates varied habitat but has environmental trade-offs
The Grouse ID Programme studies grouse health and parasitology to improve management

Welfare Considerations

Red grouse welfare is shaped by the intensive management of driven moors. Parasitic worm infections cause significant welfare impacts including weight loss, lethargy, and mortality. Disease management using medicated grit has improved some welfare outcomes. However, predator control methods used on some moors raise separate welfare and ethical concerns. The ecological impacts of intensive muirburn - including effects on peatland carbon storage and downstream water quality - also affect the broader ecosystem in which grouse live.

What You Can Do

Learn about the scientific and ethical debates around driven grouse moor management
Support research into non-lethal alternatives for managing grouse parasites and predators
Advocate for evidence-based and welfare-assessed grouse moor management standards
Engage with policy debates about land use on upland grouse moors
Report wildlife crime such as illegal raptor persecution to the police and RSPB