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As a nature conservation organisation our aims are framed in terms of maintaining and enhancing populations of birds and other wildlife. We believe in the intrinsic value of nature and therefore support the restoration of fauna – including top predators ‐ to its native range (where practical). We see the killing or taking of vertebrates as a matter of last resort that should be carefully justified on a case‐by‐case basis, rather than a uniformly acceptable everyday management tool. When we enact this policy, we do so with a clear focus on the biodiversity or other benefits that will accrue from our actions.  The decision to introduce any form of vertebrate control (lethal or non-lethal) is therefore something we never take lightly. It’s always guided by the RSPB’s Council-agreed policy which predicates that any killing or taking of vertebrates we carry out will be: a) ethically acceptable, b) scientifically justifiable, c) legal and d) efficacious and practical.

Before the RSPB carries out any kind of vertebrate control, we first seek evidence that a problem exists.  If there is good evidence that it does, we look for a non-lethal solution and, if there is one, implement that. However, non-lethal methods, whilst always the preferred way of doing things, are not always practical or effective and the problem may require lethal vertebrate control.  In order to even consider this, the following four criteria must be met:

  • That the seriousness of the problem has been established;
  • That non-lethal measures have been assessed and found not to be practicable;
  • That killing is an effective way of addressing the problem;
  • That killing will not have an adverse impact on the conservation status of the target or other non-target species.

Only when these four criteria are satisfied is lethal vertebrate control undertaken.  This is the case for all the figures presented below, which are for the most recent reporting period (Nov 2020-Oct 2021) in the interests of full transparency.

Vertebrate control summary on RSPB reserves for 2021 (2020 in brackets)

 

 

Sites

Number killed

Reason

Mink

21 (16)

104 (72)

Water Vole & ground nesting bird conservation

Red Fox

38 (38)

490 (353)

Wader, tern, Black Grouse & Crane conservation

Grey Squirrel

1 (1)

155 (48)

Red Squirrel conservation

Brown Rat

2 (n)

Numbers not specified

H & S around buildings

Rabbit

4 (1)

957 (303)

Damage to crops

Fallow Deer

7 (5)

53 (69)

Woodland habitat restoration

Muntjac Deer

5 (4)

119 (72)

Woodland habitat restoration

Roe Deer

10 (8)

357 (409)

Woodland habitat restoration

Red Deer

9 (10)

697 (578)

Woodland habitat restoration

Sika Deer

2 (1)

177 (219)

Woodland habitat restoration

Carrion/Hooded Crow

13 (1)

348 (69)

Wader, tern & Black Grouse

Barnacle Goose

1 (0)

33 nests, 167 eggs (0)

Tern and Avocet conservation

Canada Goose

2 (0)

70 nests (site 1), 167 eggs (site 2) (0)

Air safeguarding

Greylag Goose

1 (0)

485 eggs (0)

Air safeguarding

Herring Gull

1 (2)

2 shot (0), 23 eggs (20)

Roseate and Sandwich Tern conservation

Lesser Black-backed Gull

2 (3)

3 shot (2), 148 eggs (142)

Roseate and Sandwich Tern conservation

Greater Black-backed Gull

0 (0)

0 (0)

Roseate and Sandwich Tern conservation

For more information on how the RSPB's network of 224 nature reserves across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, read the latest RSPB Reserves Report. The report brings together all the information about the wildlife on the RSPB’s nature reserves and it reports on the ups and downs of the bird breeding season, together with other wildlife highlights.