Wildlife

Ptarmigan Welfare on UK Mountain Habitats

How climate change threatens ptarmigan welfare on Scottish and Welsh mountain tops.

Key Facts

Ptarmigan are restricted to high-altitude habitats above 700m in Scotland
Their cryptic white winter plumage provides camouflage on snow-covered mountains
Climate change is reducing their habitat as snow cover declines and vegetation rises
Population has declined and their range is contracting upward and northward

Welfare Considerations

Ptarmigan welfare is acutely threatened by climate change — their specialized high-altitude habitat is shrinking as temperatures rise and snow cover becomes unreliable. Welfare-informed climate adaptation conservation maps population distribution, monitors breeding success, and investigates the feasibility of supplementary management to buffer warming effects. Mountain access management also reduces welfare harm from disturbance during breeding.

What You Can Do

Report ptarmigan sightings to mountain wildlife survey schemes
Avoid disturbing ptarmigan on mountain tops during the breeding season (April-July)
Support climate change policy advocacy as the fundamental welfare intervention for this species