Wildlife

Wild Capercaillie Disturbance and Recovery

Scotland's capercaillie population is critically small, and disturbance during the breeding season is a significant welfare and conservation threat.

Key Facts

Fewer than 500 capercaillie remain in Scotland
Lekking males display at traditional sites and are highly sensitive to disturbance
A single disturbance event during peak lekking can cause abandonment of the site
Recreational access management is essential near known lek sites
Climate change and tick-borne disease add to the pressures on this population

Welfare Considerations

Capercaillie disturbed during lekking or nesting suffer reproductive failure and displacement from essential habitat. The species is so close to extinction that individual disturbance events have population-level consequences. Strict access management near lek sites is an urgent welfare and conservation requirement.

What You Can Do

Follow all access restrictions near capercaillie lek sites
Support Cairngorms restoration programmes for capercaillie
Keep dogs under close control in capercaillie habitats during spring