The capercaillie, Scotland's largest grouse, faces extinction in the UK with fewer than 500 individuals, making welfare of each bird critically important.
Hen capercaillie disturbed from nests during incubation may abandon clutches, representing complete reproductive failure and significant energy expenditure loss. Car collisions with deer fences cause traumatic injury and death. Dogs disturbing lekking males cause chronic stress responses and lek abandonment. At the current population level, the welfare impact of each adult death or breeding failure is magnified by the existential threat facing this population.