Wildlife

Wild Capercaillie Welfare Science

Capercaillie welfare science is advancing understanding of tick burden, habitat requirements and disturbance thresholds that guide management of this critically endangered species.

Key Facts

Tick burden from Ixodes ricinus causes louping ill mortality in capercaillie chicks
Chick survival is the most critical welfare parameter for population recovery
Disturbance at lek sites reduces male competitive success with welfare and population consequences
Remote camera monitoring of nests provides welfare data without disturbance
Genetic analysis of feather and dung samples enables population assessment without captures

Welfare Considerations

Capercaillie welfare science increasingly enables management that minimises direct intervention while improving welfare outcomes. Remote monitoring and genetic sampling reduce disturbance while providing essential data.

What You Can Do

Support RSPB and Forest and Land Scotland capercaillie monitoring programmes
Follow access restrictions in capercaillie areas, particularly during spring and summer
Donate to capercaillie habitat restoration in the Cairngorms National Park