Moorland Management

Dave Windle

Regular readers of Mountain Views will know that we typically update people on what isn't happening to help save mountain hares from the attentions of gamekeepers. This is closely bound up with the intensive management of moors for driven grouse shooting, which is already under scrutiny for the mysterious disappearances of raptors. I have decided to combine the different aspects into a single section on moorland management because the necessary changes to save raptors will also help mountain hares.

Firstly, we need to be clear that this is about intensive moorland management, typically for driven grouse shooting. Traditionally managed moors, even for grouse shooting, are often not a problem.

In May, SNH published a report "Analyses of the fates of satellite tracked golden eagles in Scotland" (Report no.982 and available from the SNH website). This is a damming report, which even moved the SGA to describe it as "concerning reading". Two key findings stand out:

• Overall, we conclude that a relatively large number of the satellite tagged golden eagles were probably killed, mostly on or near some grouse moors where there is recent, independent evidence of illegal persecution.
  
• This illegal killing has such a marked effect on the survival rates of the young birds that the potential capacity for the breeding golden eagle population continues to be suppressed around where this persecution largely occurs. In these parts, mainly in the central and eastern Highlands of Scotland, the prospects for recovery are poor.

What many of us have been saying for years is now official!

You have to admire the obstinacy of the rogue gamekeepers. There has been a building of momentum on this issue over the last few years and any criminal with a grain of sense would have backed off a bit, but some people just can't keep their hands out of the poison tin (or off the shotgun trigger)
Roseanna Cunningham, see https://beta.gov.scot/news/golden-eagle-deaths/ condemned this illegal activity and has pledged action. Given that golden eagles are iconic and frequently used to market Scotland abroad, the public mood is one of disgust at criminal acts carried out to support the Victorian pastimes of a select few. This will, no doubt, help the Minister to come up with decisive action, which is long overdue. I include a copy of an email written to her on this issue to help her resolve.

Dear Ms. Cunningham,
I am writing to you on behalf of the North East Mountain Trust (NEMT). NEMT represents hill walkers, climbers and other groups of people who visit and enjoy Scotland's mountain land. Individual and club membership totals over 1000 people. NEMT aims to protect wild land in Scotland from inappropriate developments for all who enjoy visiting such places.

We were pleased to see your condemnation of the recent report on persecution of Scottish birds of prey and urge you to take strong action. Golden Eagles are iconic and used to market Scotland across the world. Killing them in order to shoot a few more grouse will not attract tourist visitors! There is clear public disgust at the actions of a few rogue individuals and strong action will sit well with the vast majority of the public. We note your proposals to work with SNH to look at how existing powers could be used to order a halt to activities on certain grouse moors and agree that this is a useful way forward. However, recent experience with SNH managing deer numbers on behalf of the public interest shows that they work best with clear, enforceable powers.

In addition, more resources available to police wildlife crime officers will help Police Scotland improve their performance here.

Finally, would you give me a projected timescale for the decision on what form of action is appropriate to be made?

Yours sincerely,
Dave Windle

I received a reply promising, as per the above website, the setting up of an independent expert group to inquire into management of gamebird shooting, increased resources for wildlife crime policing and a review of the available legal measures which could be used to target geographical areas of concern. These are clearly useful first steps. Unfortunately, they were unable to advise us of any projected timetable.

More recently, on 1/8/17, OneKind has published a report calling for a ban on hare killing, except under licence, and complete protection within national parks. This report summarises the situation well and I recommend that you read it. If you agree with the views, then supporting their petition will further help. The report contributes to pressure on the Government to take action to bring grouse moors under control. Voluntary agreements simply don't work as shown by the widespread flouting of the agreed SLE/SNH call for voluntary restraint on the culling of mountain hares.

David Lintern has recently published a good summary of the issues associated with driven grouse shooting in the latest Walk Highlands newsletter.

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