Radical steps required to save birds of prey from illegal killing

Across the open heather moors of upland Britain, last-minute preparations are being put in place for the start of the red grouse shooting season on August 12. On average about 200,000 grouse are shot every year in England and Wales. Yet the management that makes such large numbers of grouse available for the guns in autumn is becoming increasingly contentious. The reason is that there is a growing and convincing body of evidence that suggests that birds of prey, or raptors, are being illegally killed by those who manage grouse stocks.