Hen Harrier Suffers Savage Brutality

Chris Packham meets with a group of experts to unravel the horrific story of one male hen harrier caught in an illegally set trap in an area managed for grouse shooting, and discovers more about the long history of raptor persecution in this area.

[@kennymacm3031]

I have had many acquaintances that were shooters and I just don't believe the tosh that they come out with about conservation. I'm on the Moors often and if I find any of these traps I will disable and report them. Absolutely

[@TheRealMythril]

Some people’s inhumanity is hard to stomach. We have virtually identical neurological systems to pretty much every creature that would be trapped in one of those devices, so of course the level of pain and panic would be equal to what we would experience. I have often heard people saying that “they are just dumb animals and they don’t feel anything.” The answer is that it is nothing more than them trying to justify their inhumanity, and excuse their own barbarism. People need to realise that butchering our wildlife, so that you can mass breed other creatures to butcher, is not the way forward.

[@tcblue3095]

@union310 Are we not talking about rare wildlife being exterminated in traps not sheep in farms

[@mike02439]

Butchering wildlife ! Go look at a heather moor , go see the wildlife on a well managed moor , go listen in April/May , go now the ling is in flower .

[@shakeybeatz]

mike young I have mate and there is fuck all there..

[@CarlBovis]

Shocking video, but one that needed to be made. Well done Chris for your continued highlighting of the disgusting persecution of our raptors, despite being subject to bullies and threats. You're doing a great job, driven grouse shooting needs to be banned for good!

[@brettfaulknerbf]

I'm lucky enough to live in the Forest of Dean Gloucestershire and very lucky to be able to watch peregrine falcons at their nest site and I've always said if i ever caught anyone climbing and interfering with the nest i would cut the rope end off lucky the peregrine falcons I've watch for many years and also kept on to get them tagged they are now tagged and being watch also but in 2017 someone was filmed messing with nest site but no one was caught for this crime and would like to thank you Chris packham for all your hard work with our wildlife thank you sir 👍😎

[@Blue24Osprey]

Bless you Chris for highlighting this problem.

[@KovietUnionDefector]

I am so sorry Chris ( and supporters) this is so sad. I now live in Finland. I keep hens they run all over my land. Every year we get the Hen Harriers migrate through our land in the Autumn and we never get upset if we lose a hen to these magnificent birds. This is because we know these birds need to eat. They only kill what they can eat. It really upsets me that the Grouse shooters would persecute these dear birds. I never forget my childhood visit back in the 80's to the Queen's Royal Sandringham Estate. We got a visit all over the estate as part of a School programme aimed at a kind of career with the local Royal Estate day. We had a special visit to the "game keeper" as a 8 year old girl. I was shown what exactly that means...killing everything that might compete with the thousands of non native Pheasants grown in pens and released for our Glorious Queen and her family to shoot in their hundreds on Boxing day and other times when she and her family visits!!!! I never forget this! I never forget how they wanted to teach us that killing off all the other wildlife was called "conservation". It did not. It made me upset. What ever they were trying to manipulate young school children to believe they did not brain wash me! I dedicated my life to supporting REAL conservation of wildlife and ecology. Now I own 4 acres of land at the far East of Finland ( where it is very cheap to buy land) and I protect and encourage ALL nature...including the magnificent Raptors! Shooting Grouse in the UK is a sick Etonian hobby and needs to end!

[@t63700]

These grouse moor owners and the thugs they employ should be given long term prison sentences, even the royal family at their Sandringham estate have been responsible for raptor persecution over the years. These grouse moor owners should be targeted and held responsible, and for every incident should be fined at least £20,000.

[@rosemaryjones6999]

Utterly disgusting and barbaric. Who is the landowner and are they aware of what is going on? How can anyone endorse this? A trap on a nest is unbelievable! - and all the other traps they leave all over the place catching and killing creatures indiscriminately. This has to stop. That beautiful hen harrier. It’s grotesque what happened to it.

[@tonywhitaker74]

So who set the trap?

[@andrewlake8481]

The trap on the nest had its safety catch on - so was never going to catch anything ? Why would that be?

[@andrewlake8481]

A trap on the nest is UNBELIEVABLE......especially one that isn't even set - with the safety catch on??? Maybe just there for show?......... I wonder?

[@mike02439]

@@tonywhitaker74 Packham to prove a point ?

[@Bluto47]

@@mike02439 Yep, that most of what he says is pure and unadulterated bullshite, but then again it shows how gullible some people are: "it's on Facebook/KZbin so it must be true!"

[@stevem4038]

I agree with CPs final statement, illegal raptor persecution is a disgrace. And illegal. But a couple of points here; as Bob Elliott said these traps and ones like them are actually legally employed. A change in the law banning non species specific traps would allow for specific targeted predator control. Setting anything else would also then become illegal. Greater resources to catch those individuals involved and tough penalties for those found guilty would also be of help. Frankly, driven grouse shooting is a regulated industry as is farming and should not be viewed as anything different. Farmers employ lethal and non lethal methods to control predator and pest species and 'manage' the landscape to maximise yield and thus profits. And are encouraged to do so. It's the way it is in a consumer society. Should we then ban farming. How many would sign up for that petition I wonder?

[@bradleywoods3742]

The trap in the cage was legal but the others, especially the one in the nest was completely illegal.

[@jordanhill1780]

Great to see a balanced comment for a change all gatekeepers are butcher's is Chris packham bs

[@loisstenner123]

Just ban the Estate Grouse Shoots. Problem Gone.

[@LlywelynapGruffydd]

I used to watch a goshawk on a shooting estate not far from this video. Iv not seen it for a year now.

[@blackbob3358]

it's ok, just fucked off back east. any one with a"monicker" like yours is, at best, dodgy...... ap dooda.

[@carolezorzo9279]

Well done to Chris for keeping highlighting these despicable acts by people who...well I can’t even think of printable words to describe. The shooting of these birds for entertainment should be banned anyway, as should these atrocious traps

[@tcblue3095]

@union310 What thousands of red grouse so they can shoot in the name of sport later if nature was left alone without man interfering like it always has it would be far better man just ruins everything look at our seas

[@tcblue3095]

@union310 So why are hen harriers being trapped and killed ?

[@1234mfc]

Please reinvestigate this area asap.

[@critterfreek83]

I just wanted to let you people in the UK know, that if you don’t value having northern harriers as part of your natural heritage, you’re quite welcome to just catch the ones which are still around and send them across the pond to a new home here in Minnesota. There’s lots of open country here, and most landowners I know LOVE having magnificent birds of prey like them flying around! They’ll be better off by far.

[@blackbob3358]

it's akin to the epstein carry on in the u.s. their pleasure is anothers pain. just a thought.

[@theotheseaeagle]

That’s just not an option. The whole point of this is to preserve them *here* not in other countries

[@pauldickinson5316]

Some people will do absolutely anything for money. A few years back I read an article about a gamekeeper who had a problem with a family of buzzards. The story was that he was losing about 500 poults a year from his 10,000 stock of pheasants. To try and solve the issue he employed someone to watch over the poults when they were at there most vulnerable, from memory it was a period of about 3 weeks. He also applied to the government for a license to kill them, Natural England issue a licence permitting the control of up to 10 buzzards to prevent serious damage to young pheasants. At the time I think it was costing him about £2/poult which is £1000 loss. It cost him more to employ the extra staff to look after the poults and the license fee. It would have been cheaper breeding an extra 500 poults. Man-made virus and therapy, both infect you with spike protein except one with an additional shot of Lipid Nano Particle and some contaminants from the manufacturing process, the consequence of which

[@Blue24Osprey]

IMHO people who are cruel to people, animals and birds have no right to be breathing oxygen. I'm disgusted that there is no real tough legislation in place to seriously deter these evil people. Also the persecution of Golden Eagles by gamekeepers is widespread and nothing is done - possibly because the land owners are socially well connected. Despicable.

[@theotheseaeagle]

It’s also because the police and government don’t take it seriously enough

[@stephenphilpott6772]

This was 3yrs ago and the problem is worse than ever, 92 of these beautiful birds have gone missing, some not even breeding age. Gamekeepers are acting all innocent, but deep down, they are behind it all.

[@rockdrigo6106]

Don Pecos Paul Kele, muy buen programa. Cuando por Chile otra vez 😃

[@t63700]

Why haven’t these barbaric traps been made illegal everywhere in the UK ?

[@theotheseaeagle]

Probably because the government don’t care about our wildlife.

[@loisstenner123]

Even the policeman investigating raptor persecution has the dead skin of some mammalian wildlife round his neck,. 8:02 Just shows the general lack of any concern for wildlife which is present in the Scottish people. Its not just raptors, they are trapping everything.

[@MrLaking123]

this stuff is higher then the hunter the governments can stop this some choose not to

[@erdevon3257]

Any estate where protected species disappear or are found trapped should have any shooting rights revoked for 5 years. This should include impounding any firearms and 4x4's that could of been used. The thick country swedes carrying out the destruction would soon learn

[@theotheseaeagle]

I still don’t think that would be enough of a deterrent. I think that a prison sentence would get things sorted, maybe at least 5-10 years

[@michaeldearden8309]

Absolutely disgusting! Surely they know who "owns" any particular part of the moors and if these torture implements are found on their lan d there can be prosecuted. However, like the Fox hunting, with so many of the wealthy in the CPS and our higher courts, the chances of getting anything done is pretty slim!

[@mike02439]

Anyone caught setting illegal traps such as gin traps can be prosecuted

[@michaeldearden8309]

@@mike02439 I wouldn't hold your breath on that one Mike! As I said, there is so much support for this sort of thing and illegal hunting within the police and CPS that the chances of getting any sort of "upholding the law": is remote!

[@andrewlake8481]

@@mike02439 It was a legal Fenn trap. These are legal provided they are set in tunnels, and not in the open. The trap shown in the nest wasnt actually set. The floor plate was down, and the safety catch was applied. For people that know nothing about traps - That means that it wont catch anything!

[@mike02439]

@@andrewlake8481 But who placed the trap in the nest? A gamekeeper , a landowner or a Packham type to create a story ? People sadly tend to believe Packham

[@andrewlake8481]

@@mike02439 It wasnt anyone with any knowledge of trapping - thats for sure !

[@HaggisFarmer]

Eh...there hasn't been grouse shooting in years on that particular estate...

[@mike02439]

Facts do not stop Packham

[@waylward]

leadhillsestate.co.uk/leadhills-today/

[@vidcrit1187]

Go to the Leadhills Estate's website and see their boast about how good the grouse shooting is there. In future, check your facts before you make a fool of yourself.

[@forddude1976]

I was told by a gamekeeper on a grose shoot that he had birds of pray on his Moors he would not tell me where they where to ues his words he didn't want them disturbed. He also told me they didn't eat enough birds to worry him. The kepper is a friend of wildlife. The bad ones will be outed as will the bad bird watching people who disturb birds of pray !

[@artgreen6915]

I severely doubt many bird watchers would cause much disturbance, certainly not species limiting disturbance. Can you point to an example where a bird population is threatened by bird watching? There doesn't seem to be quite as much conservation conflict as for gamekeepers, not to me anyway. Perhaps you are confusing bird watchers and egg collectors. That there are some good gamekeepers who leave Hen Harriers alone I don't doubt.

[@shakeybeatz]

Bad bird watching people??? wtf are you on about?

[@meapantz1983]

I had my letter from my mp this morning to say that he is bringing it up along with the other letters on the subject he had had

[@nigelbenn4642]

Oh well that'll solve it.

[@kevinparker461]

Why would someone put a trap in a nest & leave it there as obvious proof of persecution. I they wanted it dead why not shoot it? Sounds like a set up. & not a very clever one.

[@thesilentmothtrapper4373]

It's weird, the trap looks not set in that pic either just open on safety .

[@shaunt7069]

The best thing chris could do for our countrys wildlife is to push a ban on cats.. domestic cats indescriminantly massacre wildlife on a humongous scale on a daily basis for no reason. Unless you own a farm you do NOT need a cat. They should be licensed like guns. Buying a cat and allowing it to roam is basically releasing a non native predator into the wild, and releasing a non native predator is a criminal offence last time i checked.

[@tcblue3095]

Very true there not native to the uk and kill millions of birds every year not to mention voles and everything else

[@FatRakoon]

But in Packhams defence, he has openly stated that Cats are the single biggest cause of wildlife devastation in the UK. I think he has said it on over a dozen occasions. More than any other Wildlife presenter to date.

[@tcblue3095]

@@FatRakoon If you own a cat it should be law it has to wear a bell on it and kept in overnight they do so much damage to our wildlife

[@FatRakoon]

@@tcblue3095 I agree. I do own a cat, and I have owned 5 or 6 of them, and they have all been kept as house pets, they all have collars with bells, although I do know that cats can and do get stuck because iof their collars and they get strangled to death on them, but thas a horrible risk. And my cats do get kept in overnight. So yes, I fully agree with you. Oh, and my cat lives with budgies so she is just fine with birds.

[@joekyrollos9550]

@@FatRakoon yes but he's not putting up youtube videos, meant to pluck at the heart strings, showing them callously torturing their prey bofore, getting bored & needlessly killing it hours later

[@bl8947]

I am so concerned about this I am traveling down from Dingwall (in the Highland ) to Perth on the 3rd of August for the Wildlife, land reform & environment conference. Anyone else going..

[@pessimistprime4877]

RSPB cull thousands of animals... www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=jasonendfield.weebly.com/home/8000-animals-killed-by-rspb-its-a-conservationists-dilemma-they-say&ved=2ahUKEwi9jNWIkMvjAhUhtnEKHSCFD94QFjAAegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw2pOvCz3KjiufYqLsNnPo8G&cshid=1563887838892

[@theotheseaeagle]

@@pessimistprime4877 it’s controlled and sustainable culling. They aren’t trying to wipe out whole species, they are just trying to lower the numbers of overpopulated or invasive ones

[@blackbob3358]

known of nick lyall for a long time, first time i've seen him on film. just hope he's not getting "leant on " too hard by them w'it pips on t'shoulder. ( and their associated pals "on the bench", as it were).

[@drewboyd7508]

Name and shame the "landowners",

[@TheRealMythril]

Drew Boyd and hold them responsible for the deaths on their land.

[@andrewlake8481]

Yes - do that. Trial by Facebook. The very worse king of Kangaroo court. If criminality is suppected, involve the police - Simples!

[@mike02439]

Yes , guilty until proven innocent by the BBC and Packham types

[@48sydney]

@@mike02439 Unfortunately Packham has already, through his influence, screwed up general licences with disastrous consequences for UK crops and lambs timed perfectly at lambing time. Many lambs died horribly and planted crops decimated. That is a disgrace. He's not welcome in Malta either. Unfortunately he is not quite seeing the full picture or in proportion to reality. Do we ban cars because some pheasants get hit ? Illegal activities should be stopped, but that is the job of the police, not Chris Packham who wants to eradicate game production and conservation probably because he does not eat meat. Maybe he should target slaughter houses and Hallal ? Chicken farms ? Rather than the countryside. UK has the best countryside in Europe.

[@shirleyives413]

Such vile disgusting people to do this to the lovely birds and animals,Thank you Chris for making us aware

[@gwafilms]

People who are capable of this kind of atrocity are mentally ill there is no other way to describe them, time for proper action I think.

[@Tempest1888]

There are plenty of people who suffer from mental illness who don't commit crimes or harm anyone. This is not a helpful comment.

[@gwafilms]

union310 What the hell has that got to do with the persecution of a rare almost extinct bird of prey that is trapped in this inhumane way and just left to die, I suggest you think long and hard about your comment

[@zenebusman8575]

😔😥

[@madsy21anime]

Grande don Pecos Paul Kele.

[@billmurdock3527]

Until you have loved an animal your soul remains asleep.. 😥

[@kevinturner5857]

Or dead mayb !😔

[@richardmorgan607]

I love what your doing Chris these birds are sadly being destoyed and whiped from our countryside. So sad really

[@scottishguy924]

i live in south lanarkshire :(

[@joekyrollos9550]

I've walked around this area hundreds of times & NEVER seen a dead Raptor

[@bradleywoods3742]

@@joekyrollos9550 Ive walked in a woods thousands of times and never seen a tree fall over. Doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

[@artgreen6915]

@@joekyrollos9550 if the killing is effective, the population will be low, and the number of killings required to keep it that way will be too. A sign perhaps of 'effective' gamekeepers 'nipping things in the bud'. But who says you're likely to see them anyway? Evidence may be buried or disposed of. Traps are visited regularly to keep them set.

[@williampinchers]

About time ALL traps were banned and poison to

[@saturn1returns]

This must fucking stop!

[@poontang8035]

Absolutely boils my blood. 😡😡😡

[@sw574]

Love you Chris. Thank you for your upstanding work. You are a shining star. RIP hen harrier.

[@pessimistprime4877]

Chris is Vice President of the RSPB... Hypocrisy

[@davehalst]

My blood is well and truly boiling! All done for the pleasure of the rich few who don’t give a toss!

[@mike02439]

Why only the rich , the poor can go shooting also

[@joekyrollos9550]

@@mike02439 painting the Shooting Industry as a rich elitest hobby is a way to fool the ignorant & get the unwary to donate to their "Not For Profit" Organisations. Divide & conquer so to speak

[@eminemisdogshit4626]

Heavy jail sentences are needed for anyone persecuting protected wildlife. Better still, revoke any shooting rights on any estates this occurs

[@nigelbenn4642]

yeah that'll stop them. When those making the laws and handing down the sentences stop being controlled then I'll agreed with that statement but I'm holding my breath as I need oxygen.

[@DBRMatrix]

Our Monarchy has the power to end persecution of raptors in the UK.

[@pessimistprime4877]

Hey Chris, a quick question... Is it true that the RSPB killed over 8000 animals (including the use of Larsen traps)? Are you not the Vice President of RSPB? I thought you loved *all* creatures!!

[@theotheseaeagle]

Culling in severe cases is necessary. Not culling rare and critically endangered wildlife

[@pessimistprime4877]

@@theotheseaeagle Chris has on numerous occasions described Larsen Traps and snares as being "cruel and indiscriminate " but is definitely aware of their use in RSPB reserves and projects, in which he's been overseeing as the acting vice president for years. Do you honestly believe that *only* target species were trapped or killed? What about the RSPB removing 19 Herring Gull nests (red listed), 30 lesser black backed gulls (red listed), 22 barncle goose nests and destroyed 300 Canada goose eggs (imprisonment for anyone else). Look up the Cull figures yourself and tell me if you're happy with it.

[@emmawelsh5336]

What a stupid comment......

[@WalkWithWallace]

Thanks for highlighting this, we definitely need land reform in the long run. But licenced grouse moors would be a start.

[@mike02439]

There are already laws regulating the shooting of grouse ( and other game birds ). There are laws regulating and protecting upland areas . And by land reform are suggesting that big estates should be broken up such as land owned by certain water companies , certain local authorities and the National Trust .

[@indianscout4487]

Well done Chris

[@mroconnell1775]

The local land owner could ban grouse shooting on his land.

[@emmawelsh5336]

The local land owner is the one profiting from grouse shooting.

[@zenaweller3692]

Tragic and sad they get away with such cruelty

[@tonywhitaker74]

They? Who are they? No proof of who did this yet. The only identified person so far is the group who tampered with the crime scene before the police had done their work.

[@zenaweller3692]

Hi Tony, 'They' are the people who lay the barbaric traps, I thought that would have come across as obvious?

[@pawsandclaws2417]

The queen knows all these shooting moors and the people who own them, my question is what is she doing about it? as ever nothing!

[@kisilvan]

The royals participate.

[@darcyblack8222]

The key word is “Royal”, my friend, sadly synonymous with hunting. Whenever you see the word “Royal” in the organisation always be wary. RSPCA, RSPB etc they actually are not Wildlife friendly.

[@HelenaMikas]

Have to say have had good encounters with the RSPCA and re wild creatures . Why not join in their work on a voluntary basis @@darcyblack8222

[@mike02439]

Are you blaming HM The Queen ?

[@pawsandclaws2417]

@@mike02439 I am saying she is part of the problem.

[@janesmith1669]

Sorry Packham not Peckham...oops

[@andrewlake8481]

Is there a video/photo showing the bird in the trap CLEARLY, as I have seen all the pictures and watched this video several times, and not one of the photo's shows the trap attached to the birds leg clearly. Now if you were filming the bird to show an illegal trapping incident SURELY, you would have clear pictures of the trap? Also, the trap in the nest has its safety catch applied, so it won't catch anything in that condition. The pictures of the trap in the nest shows it uncovered, however it is more likely that a skilled trapper would have covered the trap up ( and removed the safety catch ) to try and trap a bird ? Also if a keeper was committing an already illegal act, in trying to trap birds on the nest, he would be up especially early to remove the evidence, rather than leaving it there for others to find. Just many of the inconsistencies in your film. I am not sure that I buy it.

[@prospects868]

You are Dam right .. its a joke .. looks like a set up to myself also . All part of packhams agenda to ban all forms of shooting and trapping ..

[@shakeybeatz]

@@prospects868 You Wally.

[@emmawelsh5336]

@@prospects868 if I came across a bird in a trap I'd be too busy trying to help ot than waste time fucking around taking a video. I have no idea what point you think you're making besides making it very obvious you're one of these backward idiots who think they have some kind of special knowledge about the countryside.

[@peregrinepete]

You are talking total crap the bird had to be taken out of the trap as quickly as possible to save further injuries what more evidence do you need a shot golden eagle lots of shot or poisoned ravens buzzards Peregrines I could go on but, if for a minute you listened it is a raptor persecution hot spot for 20 years but I’ll never change your mind because it’s people like you don’t want to see the truth.!!!!’

[@jamesturner7728]

That vet is lieing through his teeth

[@SuperBulldog03]

Shame on you Scotland!

[@Stephenuk-zc3xo]

If the grouse shooting community can't learn how to behave then perhaps its time to ban it.

[@MagikGimp]

So people want the challenge of the hunt, but they want it to be easier? Huh.

[@weaton25]

I do not agree with trapping birds/animals at all but as for these hawks why do people seem to think that they have some god given rite to bring these bloody hawks back on land that they do not own and the birds have not been living there for maybe hundreds of years most of these things were killed off for good reasons at the time.

[@irishelk3]

They live in a gloomy part of the world and they’re bored. It can be hard to have empathy for people like that, but they have probably had a very dull life. They can’t feel the beauty of the world and the enthusiasm that people like us feel for the world. Maybe some psychedelics could help?, help people to understand the consequences of their actions. There should be a crack team working all over the UK to tackle that, and massive fines, public service or a long jail term.

[@nigelbenn4642]

Full employment away from being hired by Tory party toffs might help. Ship building was a grand idea in Scotland for decades but we all know how that ended.

[@irishelk3]

Yeah I’m aware of that because of Billy Connolly...Y’know his old pal Sean Connery wanted Scottish independence, just like us in Ireland. The Scots’ll work it out some day. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇮🇪

[@loisstenner123]

Ban ALL Grouse/Pheasant estate shoots. PROBLEM GONE. The filthy rich whose pleasure it is to have defenceless birds herded towards them for butchering will be very sad. Look at that desert of a landscape the Scottish people have made of their so called "countryside". Its shocking, a national disgrace.

[@paulinetown7542]

My husband used to be a rehabilitation keeper for raptors and I was so lucky to see so many birds that we managed to get back into the wild - knowing how incredible these creatures are makes it so devastating to watch this. I can't get my head around why people want to shoot birds as a hobby in the first place, but when the additional victims of this sport are the other animals and birds that are persecuted to support an industry that is based on brutality, surely it's time to make sure that the people responsible are sentenced in a way that hits home - only then are we going to see this stop. RIP Hen Harrier - and the young that have been lost as those eggs will now not hatch either.....just heart-breaking.

[@karencobbett7897]

People should boycott Scotland for their holidays - create some local pain to get local people on side

[@gmckayak]

That's just stupid. What we need is a real increase in volunteers going into these areas looking for traps.

[@andrewlake8481]

@@gmckayak traps are legal, and their setting in specially made tunnels is legal. Tampering with raptors nests is illegal, but so is going near one, where birds are thought to be present ?

[@mike02439]

@@gmckayak Not looking for traps but monitoring moors in cooperation with landowners

[@gmckayak]

@@andrewlake8481 thanks for that information pal

[@davidross8709]

Please boycott Scotland in actual fact build the wall back up to keep you knobbers out!

[@blackbob3358]

i don't understand when he says " i do'nt understand". he knows full well what the crack is.( as do the "sturgeon" types in the micky mousery that is the scottish parliament) shillings, is the cry. good luck, andy, i think ya might need it.

[@mrgordonjohn6143]

Cannot the the wildlife crime/raptor persecution group, meet with ALL grouse moor owners agents and game keepers, and suggest a temporary self imposed ban on the use of traps and ALL other methods used to exterminate those animals and birds which are seen as a threat to the welfare of grouse. Such a ban should be in place for at least three years to enable the implications of it to be fully recorded and understood, because and surprise surprise both party’s just might be equally pleased to realise that these raptors and four legged critters may not actually be a serious problem at all. If, said ban proves detrimental to the grouse then better methods of ‘pest control’, other than what have been used prior need to be employed. Nature will find its own balance and whilst I fully understand that driven grouse shooting is not natural, the two may coexist far easier than anyone could realise. Many gamekeepers are poorly educated, their thoughts, definition and understanding of PEST CONTROL are derived from various sources not least outdated knowledge, rumours, untruths and ignorance. Educate these people better but at the same time GROUSE MOOR OWNERS SHOULD FACE SERIOUS FINES AND RESTRICTIONS. i.e. Each and every new red dot on a future map of the highlands ( similar to the one featured in this video ) should attract a really hefty fine of at the very least a £10,000 minimum, with driving bans being imposed on all those involved in the keepering duties. If this could be achieved then for sure raptor persecution will diminish.

[@WBW-vt9pf]

Manufactured habitat !!!!!!!!! It's that habitat that has far greater diversity of wildlife than any barren RSPB reserve .... FACT .

[@joekyrollos9550]

Here's a link to give some breadth to this issue & possibly enlighten others to what is really going on: www.fginsight.com/news/ground-nesting-bird-numbers-up-thanks-to-predator-control-89763?fbclid=IwAR0SWr5bVF5cKusqrv5Ecsf7DH43j8EZPJKjCKO_WCi_Nxay4WbkoscIgj4

[@artgreen6915]

But here the predator (Hen Harrier) is the most in need of conservation. This doesn't give breadth. Its a form of lobbying by people whose primary interest is not really conservation, that's a front for their lobbying position. I can't see predators (caveat non-invasive species) ever wiping out prey because when their prey population dips, after a lag so does the predator's. A natural cycle.

[@peregrinepete]

Absolutely Tosh and I am being Polite

[@Nigel-nar53]

It's about time the Land Owners, the Estate Managers & the Gamekeepers were locked up in prison every time such offences occur. As for the length of time I'm not sure but if up to me I'd throw away the key!

[@tonywhitaker74]

You need evidence that the person committed the crime. Who committed this crime?

[@andrewlake8481]

as long as the offences DID ACTUALLY occur...............

[@joekyrollos9550]

The Leadhills Estate Employees have been cleared of any wrong doing

[@mike02439]

Guilty until proven innocent ?

[@juliepownall1063]

This is so terrible must stop now who in the right mind does this 😥

[@TheRothery81]

This has made me so fukin angry , humans are the root of all evil , if we wernt here the earth and all the amazing animals would thrive

[@pessimistprime4877]

RSPB kill literally thousands of animals every year... If you feel there is a hypocrisy, please share your views with Chris www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=jasonendfield.weebly.com/home/8000-animals-killed-by-rspb-its-a-conservationists-dilemma-they-say&ved=2ahUKEwi9jNWIkMvjAhUhtnEKHSCFD94QFjAAegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw2pOvCz3KjiufYqLsNnPo8G&cshid=1563887838892

[@Sksk27547]

A house full of grouse, hilarious 😂 that's a bit extreme. People don't like chicken or quail anymore?

[@user-yn1gd7wn3w]

Buggger offfffff

[@saturn1returns]

I live there! I see buzzards all the time!

[@mike02439]

This video is part of Packham's anti grouse shooting agenda and must be seen as such . Having said that anyone who kills any raptor , anyone who sets illegal gin traps should be charged and prosecuted . An answer to both Packham types and to illegal raptor killer types is for land owners to monitor their land using PIR cameras and observers especially at raptor breeding sites and during the nesting period . Get the local wildlife trust people and BTO people to help .

[@artgreen6915]

The raptor killing is postulated to relate to managing the land for grouse shooting. It is the owners who employ those managers, or accept rent from organisations who do. Why would the landowner then cooperate (in a wholehearted and effective manner) with something they apparently don't share a conflict-free interest in?

[@Loubielou01]

Well done Chris for your constant work in highlighting this. It made me cry, as it is do very wrong. Keep putting the pressure on and we'll do all we can to help back you up. Grouse gamekeepers have a lot to answer for ecologically. Shame on them!

[@jamesdrichardson3447]

...and people ask me why I'm a misanthrope. Chris.....Everyone already knows you're a very dedicated person to your cause and I admire you greatly for it, hopefully this dedication will not go unrecognised.

[@tcblue3095]

The mentality of some people on here beggars belief and just goes to show why the uk wildlife is being decimated for so called sport shooting well done mr packham for standing up for what the maority want to see which is a varied and thriving wildlife If we are to tackle our reputation as one of the most nature-depleted countries on earth, a civilised debate on predator control is badly needed.

[@elizabethtaylor9321]

The simple fact is if there was no grouse moor management there would no be open moorland, ban it and landowners would say , fuck then, and cover the moors in forestry and wind turbines, then you would see the disappearance of many types of wildlife , it is only a small number of rouge estates that are doing this so don’t blame them all for the actions of a small few.

[@garypreen3175]

You couldn’t lie straight in bed Mr packham your are a typical bbc employee I rate you as highly as jimmy

[@candymcdandy]

Chris brilliant as always and supporting these other brave people willing to go on camera to challenge those responsible for this disgusting persecution - gamekeepers, farmers, estate managers and other so called "stewards" of the countryside.

[@margaret4904]

when is this going to stop leave our wild life alone

[@mike02439]

Do not believe Packham's lies

[@shakeybeatz]

mike young Why?

[@lifeofanarchaeologist]

Disgusting behaviour from the rich and privileged

[@mike02439]

Why the rich and privileged ? Anyone can go shooting , it need not cost much

[@lifeofanarchaeologist]

mike young A simple google search, shows you that this is class problem. www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/apr/28/britain-plutocrats-landed-gentry-shotgun-owners

[@andrewlake8481]

I doubt that staff working on the estate are either rich or privileged. More class clap trap coming out.

[@andrewlake8481]

@@lifeofanarchaeologist what else is the Guardian going to say......... Time you read a proper paper, that doesnt turn every topic into a class issue.

[@lifeofanarchaeologist]

Andrew Lake what like Daily Mail? Ha fuck right off.

[@vinadmans8922]

It won't stop there's money involved If this was Elephants or Tigers in Africa we would all be up in arms, so tell me what's the difference! Why are some landowners and farmers still living in the dark ages? Please keep up the great work Chris

[@gillkidman6243]

Well Done Chris. We have to keep up the pressure this amount of crime cannot continue. The loss of wildlife tourism to Scotland will be huge if this continues. Close down these estates, let them show they stop crime on their land!

[@theLukedishwasher]

Thank you Chris. We have a job to do.

[@karensalmon8857]

Well done Chris, we back you 100%..these people doing this are barbaric....what is wrong with them putting a trap down is bad enough but putting it into the nest is just sick! They need to be stopped

[@andrewlake8481]

Who put the trap there - That is the 100 million dollar question ?

[@kevinturner5857]

Whoever did that is a v v v sick bunny , that is evil , they must b vvv unloved people to do this , that is vvv dark & so cowardly

[@justinpeebles1186]

I'm no expert but pigeons can live just fine with one foot, as can dogs etc. Surely the best way forward for that bird would have been to amputate the damaged limb as external pins on a matchstick limb just doesn't strike me as a viable option.

[@scouser102002]

Justin Peebles wow what a ridiculous comment. Hen harriers and pigeons could hardly be any different. Raptors hunt and kill prey, they do this with their talons, they need two of them to do this. The vet who worked on this bird is one of the best there is, if it could have been saved it would have been. Birds of prey simply cannot hop around on one leg

[@emmawelsh5336]

@@scouser102002 you're right in what you're saying but there's no need to use insults.

[@seannamadra5675]

Pouty Packham intrveiw locals not your fellow Englishmen? Try get a balanced view?

[@tonywhitaker74]

Tampering with a crime scene. How does he get there so quickly. Photo of an unset trap in the nest. This man has no authority and should allow the police to deal with the crime. His agenda will hopefully be his downfall.

[@hardlines2635]

He talks about “completely upsetting the ecology of the environment” he should take a look at the damage Red Kites have done to areas of the Yorkshire countryside. In areas where I go walking all small wildlife has just about disappeared, I think these birds have got out of control. They have even moved into urban areas, not bothered about people.

[@shakeybeatz]

What damage? stop talking absolute tripe.

[@theotheseaeagle]

What a load of BS. Their numbers aren’t even that large, and there’s still plenty of small animals. Obviously you city people just aren’t looking hard enough

[@kevinturner5857]

Too many angry people about , people wth your sad attitude r the Magor threat to your moors , hope you take your dogs turds home with you or r they left around for wildlife !?

[@jamesnicholson1651]

Your talking bull red kites are scavengers

[@kevinturner5857]

@@jamesnicholson1651 Jesus Christ , why don't you out of control perverts (humans) stop interfering with OUR wildlife !? Human beings r the worst threat to every livin creature on this unwell planet , start looking at wildlife with awe, & wonder ,

[@SGTsniperkill71638]

Looks to me to be a different bird..... different colour and size......

[@SGTsniperkill71638]

And there’s no photo with the trap on the birds foot. SET UP. Stop with the bullshit

[@codymcadam9262]

I agree with Shaun...packham your a sad sad man...thrive on on this you do

[@tcblue3095]

Yes he loves seeing these birds caught in traps unbelievable someone could think like that

[@wildlifewatcher7040]

@@tcblue3095 no he doesn't

[@happyharry8721]

I believe this is one sided and a bit to bias,chris has a massive issue with shooting and never highlighted the benefits grouse shooting creates.harriers breed better on the moors,curlew and other birds benifits.if has so sure let's have a total none bias debate with the shooting groups and mr packham as well as others.but I bet chris would rather keep films like this creating miss information to the masses.

[@peregrinepete]

happy Harry yes only if they let the Harriers and other raptors live which surely you can see they don’t "..........

[@happyharry8721]

@@peregrinepete evidence needs not to be one sided.all the people in this film believe the same thing and so have a bias opinion.

[@mikes8917]

happy Harry. Chris can’t do a balanced report, he jumps to conclusions for his own political agenda. He’s autistic and can’t empathise with other opinions. He got the general license issue wrong and he’s going to get this wrong too.

[@valeriepage4777]

Happy Harry Are you saying that these grouse moor owners are encouraging all wildlife on their land? Please tell us how many the Harriers have increased by ? We are all interested

[@happyharry8721]

@@valeriepage4777 more than the RSPB cAn manage to breed and that goes for the curlew as well.

[@Jackjack530]

Nice fake video pal. 2 different birds there 😂😂😂

[@tcblue3095]

idiot

[@wildlifewatcher7040]

no

[@thomassyme3185]

As long as you have rich landowners you will have problems with this kind ofcruelty . they are only interested in makeing money out of these moors,

[@joekyrollos9550]

Have you ever visited a Shoot or Managed Grouse Moor?

[@craiggibson5621]

shame it wasn't caught by the head!

[@wildlifewatcher7040]

why?

[@emmawelsh5336]

It's a shame your parents wasted time teaching you to read and write and this is how you choose to use your words.

[@adl2005]

Very well scripted,

[@kevinturner5857]

The landed classes n they're toady hired lowly thugs what they get away with , class snobbery , no feelings for anything not even themselves , deprived of love through they're lives 😔