Red Grouse Conservation and Upland Moorland Management
Grouse Shooting: Upland Income and Ecology
Grouse shooting is a significant source of income in the uplands, alongside deer stalking in the Highlands. Red Grouse inhabit moorland areas, though their numbers have been declining. Wider land management practices affect the UK’s moorlands, which constitute 75% of the total upland area. Before 1990, approximately 200,000 acres of heather moorland were lost.
Farming and Grazing Impacts
Upland farming primarily involves livestock (beef and sheep) breeding for lowland flocks. Historically, subsidies have sometimes led to overgrazing. Appropriate stocking rates are crucial for each farm. Ticks, which transmit diseases, use sheep and deer as their main hosts.
Key Game Bird Species in UK Uplands
- Capercaillie: Found in conifer woodland, particularly Scots pine with heather, bilberry, and cowberry. Extinct in the 18th century and reintroduced in the 19th, but numbers are currently declining due to a voluntary moratorium on shooting.
- Ptarmigan: Inhabits the Arctic landscape of the Scottish Highlands. Its plumage is white in winter. Population estimated at 10,000 pairs.
- Black Grouse: Found at the edges of conifer and birch forests. Over the past 150 years, the population has declined dramatically in Scotland and NE England, currently estimated at 6,500 males.
Red Grouse Habitat and Density
Red Grouse habitat consists of heather moorland areas, blanket bog, and shrub heath. They are the same species as the Ptarmigan but lack the white winter plumage and their diet is exclusively heather. The greatest density is found where 40–80% of the area is rich heather. Between 1950 and 1980, overgrazing by stock and deer, along with forestry, caused habitat loss, but management through controlled burning has since stabilized the heather.
Forestry and Moorland Loss
Between 1960 and 1980, extensive conifer forestry caused significant loss of heather moorland. This practice has now largely ceased, and there is ongoing conversion from mature forest back to heath moorland.
Grouse Population Status
The British breeding stock is estimated at 250,000 pairs, with breeding densities reaching up to 50 pairs per km² in spring. While the population is stable in Northern England, it is declining in Scotland and numbers are low in Wales, leading to conservation concern.
Since the 1800s, grouse shooting has been a major source of income for some upland estates. Maintaining large numbers requires intensive management focused on conservation, heather management, and control of predators and disease. Grouse cannot be released into the wild to boost numbers effectively.
Heather Management for Habitat Health
Heather management is essential to maintain habitat quality, providing new growth for nutrients, nesting sites, and cover. Controlled burning rotation is necessary, typically every 7–10 years, depending on the growth rate. In some uplands, the rotation may extend to 20–25 years.
Heather can be damaged by the heather beetle. While chemical control is generally avoided, controlled burning can reduce infestation, as young heather is not susceptible.
Diseases Affecting Grouse
Louping Ill Virus
Transmitted by ticks, often carried by sheep. Infected chicks suffer high mortality (up to 80%). Control measures include dipping sheep flocks, but this is less effective when hares or deer are present as hosts.
Strongylosis (Nematode Infection)
Caused by the nematode Trichostrongylus tenuis, this disease spreads through the grouse population, potentially reducing breeding success or causing mortality. It can now be effectively treated with medication.
Predator Control and Conservation Conflict
Predation is a fundamental factor influencing grouse populations. In recent decades, predator populations have increased, partly due to a reduction in gamekeepers. Control measures target species like foxes, crows, and stoats. However, raptors are protected species.
The Hen Harrier Conflict (Langholm Moor)
The Hen Harrier is a main predator of grouse. The Joint Raptor Study conducted at Langholm Moor (1992–1997) showed that a high population of harriers resulted in a significant decline (50%) in the grouse population. This finding highlighted the conflict. A new project at Langholm Moor aims to diversify the feeding habits of harriers to aid species recovery, often necessitated by illegal hunting of harriers by some gamekeepers.
The Glorious Twelfth: History and Tradition
The opening of the grouse season, known as the “Glorious Twelfth,” became popular during Victorian times. This popularity was boosted by Queen Victoria’s purchase of the Balmoral Estate and the expansion of the railway network, which brought wealthy people to the uplands in August. Queen Victoria often took residence at Balmoral on August 12th, marking the start of the season.
Economic Contribution and Future Sustainability
The grouse industry contributes approximately $100 million to Great Britain’s economy. It ensures the active management of moorland, providing benefits for wildlife and creating rural employment. This level of investment is only sustainable if high shooting yields are maintained. Key strategies to maintain grouse density include:
- Predator control
- Disease limitation
- Heather management