Black grouse populations have declined by 70% in Scotland since 1990, with welfare pressures from lek disturbance, habitat degradation and predation management.
Disturbance during spring lekking causes birds to abandon display sites, reducing mating success and breeding output. Predator control conducted for red grouse shooting sometimes benefits black grouse through reduced corvid and raptor predation, creating complex welfare trade-offs. Overgrazing by sheep and deer degrades the bog-fringe habitat black grouse depend on for nesting and chick rearing, reducing population viability over time.