Red grouse are managed intensively on driven shooting moors through heather burning, predator control, and medicated grit, raising welfare concerns for both target and non-target species.
Grouse moor management raises welfare concerns across multiple species. Intensive medicated grit provision and worm control programmes are welfare positive for grouse but concentrate populations at densities creating other disease risks. Mountain hare culling - sometimes involving thousands of animals - causes acute welfare harm to a native species for commercial benefit. Illegal raptor persecution causes suffering and population-level welfare impacts for hen harriers and other protected birds. The intensive management required to sustain driven grouse shooting creates a landscape with reduced biodiversity and welfare impacts beyond the target species.