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Fox control on shooting estates: How good is it?

Key points A novel analysis of data recorded by gamekeepers revealed the impact of fox control practised in relatively small areas (average 8 km2) on fox density within each area. Data from 22 shooting estates were analysed separately, allowing comparison across a range of local circumstances. F...

Best practice use of medicated grit

The presence of Trichostrongylus tenuis, a parasitic strongyle threadworm, which lives in the guts of red grouse has been known for more than 100 years. Its impact on red grouse is often referred to as the disease strongylosis. Research started in the 1980s by the GWCT established that infection ...

Mountain hares

Q: What are mountain hares?A: Mountain hares are lagomorphs, a member of the rabbit family. They are sometimes known as the blue hare or white hare because of their blueish-grey coat in summer and white coat in winter. Mountain hares graze on vegetation such as heather, blaeberry and the bark of ...

Red grouse

How did the removal of grouse moor management in Berwyn SPA affect other birds? Dispersal and mortality of red grouse in northern England  Red grouse and climate change  Strongyle infection rates  Treatment of strongylosis  Parasites and red grouse  Controlling louping ill  Grouse moor survey  A...

Deployment and grit box hygiene

Deployment A lattice of grit sites should be established across the moor, whose frequency broadly relates to the grouse pair density in spring, i.e. a grit station in each territory. Grit sites should be either marked, using sections of alkathene pipe or small posts, or the grid reference of each...

The effect of predator control for lapwing breeding on wet grassland nature reserves

Key points This study looked at the effect of fox and crow control on breeding success and population trends for lapwing on 11 RSPB nature reserves in lowland wet grassland areas. Predator control doubled breeding success on sites where there was a high background level of predators. Predator co...

The effects of grouse moor management on raptors and ravens

Key points Management of heather moorland for driven red grouse shooting may benefit some raptors and ravens by reducing the risk of predation and increasing food availability. Between 1992 and 2018, numbers and breeding success of four raptor species and raven were monitored on Langholm Moor in...

History of worm control

Strongyle worms and strongylosis

Strongyle infection rates