Summer Grouse Report 2024

2nd August 2024

We are sorry for the delay in sending this report, we have been waiting for the final counts off the moors, some of these have been delayed due to conditions and late broods of chicks hatching off.

In our Spring reports we were quite bullish with good spring counts on pretty much all of the moors we are involved with, however we were concerned about the warm wet conditions over winter and lack of frost. This, combined with the high worm counts in most grouse populations last autumn has completely decimated the grouse stocks on almost every moor in the UK.

Many presume medicated grit will prevent grouse crashes, however the grouse couldn’t possibly cope with the sheer density of worm eggs which have been excreted out of the birds. Birds carrying this high worm burden, combined with the mild weather has meant none of the worm eggs have been killed off by cold weather or frosts. The Spring continued with damp warm conditions right through April to early May, allowing the worm to multiply rapidly and kill many young and old grouse. The wet weather may have washed off most of the medication on the grit, so the medicated grit was probably made almost ineffectual by the climatic conditions.

On some moors there is concern there are not sufficient birds for breeding stock for the 2025 season and it may be two or three years before the grouse populations have built back up to harvestable surplus. We have been here before and historically it has always come right over time, however if we continue to get very warm, mild winters with plenty of rainfall it is difficult to see how the populations can build up in a meaningful way again.

So, to affirm to those of you who have been cancelled it is a huge disappointment not to see you on our lovely hills that we are all so proud of, but please spare a thought for all the keepers, beaters, pickers -up, staff and hoteliers who are all going to be missing your company this year.

Without your income we cannot help this fragile and biodiverse landscape cling on to its rare wildlife in the everchanging modern world we now live and work in. We appreciate all of your support over the years and hope that we can get back up and running for next year!