Wildlife

Wild Hen Harrier Persecution Welfare

Hen harriers face illegal persecution on driven grouse moors, causing individual deaths and population-level decline despite legal protection.

Key Facts

Hen harriers are legally protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act
Breeding pairs on English grouse moors have declined to near zero despite suitable habitat availability
Satellite tag failure and disappearance rates above grouse moors far exceed natural rates
A brood management scheme allows limited legal nest intervention to reduce conflict
Persecution through shooting and nest destruction continues despite legal protection

Welfare Considerations

Hen harriers killed through illegal persecution suffer traumatic death. Nests destroyed during incubation result in embryo death and breeding failure. The near-elimination of a legally protected apex predator from English moorland represents a profound conservation and welfare failure.

What You Can Do

Report suspected raptor persecution to RSPB and police wildlife crime units
Support organizations campaigning for stronger grouse moor regulation
Donate to hen harrier monitoring programs that document persecution through satellite tracking