Scottish Red Grouse (Lagopus scotica) now a distinct species

A new petition has been launched by Wild Justice to draw attention to what's going on in the grouse moors in the UK, primarily to ban the shooting of large numbers of grouse, which are driven by beaters around the hills, to where shooters wait to shoot them as they fly past.

This practice is neither "sporting nor hunting" and results in the killing of large numbers of our native Scottish Grouse, often using lead shot, which in fragments can remain in the flesh unseen, lead is a toxic poison. 

Many raptor species, including Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Peregrine, Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owls, which can prey on the grouse, disappear on the moors despite many having reliable satellite trackers. So far a licencing scheme in Scotland (Wildlife Bill) has failed to stop persecution of raptors.

Petition to ban driven grouse shooting, click here

Red Grouse Lagopus scotica, now reclassified and a distinct species, Scottish Red Grouse.