Wildlife

Wildlife Crime and Raptor Persecution

Illegal persecution of birds of prey remains one of the most significant wildlife crime issues in the UK, particularly on upland game shooting estates.

Key Facts

Hen harriers, red kites, peregrines, and golden eagles are primary targets of persecution
Poisoning, trapping, nest destruction, and shooting are all used by wildlife criminals
Satellite tracking data has revealed numerous suspicious disappearances of tagged raptors
Raptor persecution is strongly linked geographically to driven grouse moor estates
UK law provides some of the strongest raptor protections in Europe, but enforcement is inadequate

Welfare Considerations

Raptor persecution causes direct suffering to individual birds and population-level harm to species that are already vulnerable. Stronger enforcement, greater deterrent sentencing, and land management reform are essential.

What You Can Do

Report suspected raptor persecution to the police and RSPB immediately
Support campaigns for licensing of driven grouse shooting
Engage with the link between grouse moor management and raptor persecution
Donate to organisations that investigate and document wildlife crime
Advocate for harsher sentencing as a deterrent against raptor persecution