Predator management for nature recovery
The targeted management of predators is an important public service carried out by shooters to support farming and nature recovery. Working ethically and effectively is at the core of getting the results needed. Explore our case studies and guidance on predator control. Got a story? Don’t forget to tell us by using the form at the bottom of the page.
What does good look like?
Redshank and avocet recovery in Northwest England
Land managed by The Lytham & District Wildfowlers’ Association supports the highest numbers of breeding redshank and avocet in the UK thanks to a combination of predator control and habitat management.
Predator control and nature recovery – what does the science say?
BASC provides a clear snapshot of the available research and shows how lethal and non-lethal predator control can contribute to nature recovery targets.
How do I do that?
BASC’s pest and predator advice hub gives you access to a wealth of advice. Below are three core must-reads for anyone undertaking pest and predator control.
BASC’s Wildlife Fund and BASC staff have supported the development of the following advice from the Working for Waders partnership, providing a focus on protecting breeding waders such as curlew, lapwing, oystercatcher, redshank and golden plover.
What can I collect?
The key information you can collect for any species management programme is not only what you have culled but what you have seen as well. This includes predators and their prey.
Keep a log, ideally a digital log, for whenever you visit a site. Note what you see as well as what you cull. It gives you a much rounder picture of what is happening.
There are apps online for recording control as well as BASC’s Green Shoot Mapping website. Focused conservation projects typically have their own recoding requirements that can capture a great deal of information, however, below is the minimum you should collect for your own use.
- Date
- Location
- Predator species and number seen
- Number taken
- Where practical to assess, their sex and age
- Notes
You should also track prey species of predators to see how they are doing. If they are quarry species that comes naturally but keeping a record of the non-quarry species that are vulnerable to the predators you are controlling is vital so that you have hard evidence to work from. All this information will help you determine if the level of control is correct.
Contact us for support if you want further advice.
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