Illegal killing of raptors including hen harriers, red kites, and peregrines causes significant welfare harm and undermines conservation success. Enforcement and deterrence are priorities.
Raptor persecution causes direct welfare harm through poisoning, trapping, and shooting of protected species. Poisoning in particular causes prolonged suffering before death. The scale of illegal killing is sufficient to suppress raptor populations despite full legal protection. Strengthening enforcement, improving evidence standards, and changing management incentives on grouse moors are all needed to address this welfare and conservation failure.