Hen Harrier Welfare and Moorland Conflict

Key Facts

• Hen harriers are legally protected and in severe decline — fewer than 600 breeding females remain in the UK
• Illegal persecution on driven grouse moors is the primary cause preventing population recovery in England
• Natural breeding density on English moorland should support 300+ pairs; actual breeding attempts number around 50
• Brood management trials allow harrier chicks to be temporarily removed from grouse moors to reduce predation pressure
• GPS tagging has directly linked hen harrier disappearances to managed grouse moor locations

Welfare Considerations

Hen harrier welfare is profoundly compromised by systematic illegal persecution. GPS-tagged birds disappear at statistically anomalous rates over managed grouse moors — strong evidence of illegal killing that continues despite legal protection. Individual hen harriers are shot, trapped, or poisoned, causing painful deaths. The population cannot recover to natural density while this persecution continues. Brood management is controversial because it manages harriers to reduce their impact on grouse rather than addressing the persecution. Conservation enforcement, grouse moor licensing, and cultural change within the driven grouse industry are essential for harrier welfare and survival.

What You Can Do

• Support RSPB and Hen Harrier Life project campaigns for grouse moor licensing and enforcement
• Report suspected hen harrier persecution to the RSPB Raptor Persecution UK hotline and police
• Never disturb known hen harrier nests or display areas during the breeding season
• Advocate for statutory licensing of driven grouse moors with hen harrier population recovery as a condition
• Follow @HHlife and @RaptorPersecutionUK for updates on persecution incidents and policy campaigns