Wildlife

Wild Capercaillie: 2026 Conservation Welfare Progress

Capercaillie conservation welfare progress in 2026 reflects increased investment and improved management coordination.

Key Facts

Cairngorms Connect's large-scale habitat management is improving capercaillie territory quality
New GPS tracking studies are providing unprecedented individual welfare and behaviour data
Disturbance management through path closures and signage has reduced recreational impacts
Fence marking and removal programmes have significantly reduced collision mortality in core woodland

Welfare Considerations

Capercaillie conservation welfare is improving in 2026 through coordinated investment in habitat management, disturbance reduction, and fence removal. Individual welfare monitoring through GPS tracking reveals the specific challenges facing individual birds and enables targeted management responses. Progress is real but the population remains critically small.

What You Can Do

Support Cairngorms Connect capercaillie habitat management programmes
Respect all path closures and disturbance restrictions in capercaillie woodland
Donate to RSPB Scotland capercaillie conservation welfare monitoring