Animal of the August 12, 2013 -- Glorious, for whom?

It may well have escaped your notice that today is August 12, dubbed the Glorious 12th by fans of shooting. Although most shooting seasons will not start until September 1, hundreds if not thousands of this week's animal of the week Lagopus lagopus scotica (red grouse) might have been shot today in the UK.

Red grouse are a sub-species of the willow grouse (or willow ptarmigan), unique to the UK and Ireland—they differ from other subspecies of willow grouse (found elsewhere in the northern hemisphere) in their lack of white markings, their red eye com

bs, and their failure to turn white during winter.

While the hunting of grouse is in some ways pretty good for grouse, as shooting moors are managed to increase their numbers: heather is burned to encourage new shoots that the grouse eat, and medicated grit is left out to treat infection with gut parasites. Moreover, some predators are removed or excluded.

The charismatic birds of prey, hen harriers (named for their supposed predilection for young game birds), should be common across the UK, but their habitat has been fragmented and the most suitable areas for them are managed grouse moors. While it is illegal to kill hen harriers, a protected species in the UK, many suspect that part of the "management" of grouse moors involves killing these birds by shooting, trapping, or poisoning. The numbers of hen harriers in the UK have plummeted in the past century. And this year, of the last few pairs in England, not one bred successfully.

Now, I'm in no way against game shooting and that sort of whatnot. While it's not something I'm necessarily keen to have a go at, I don't mind hunting as long as it's done responsibly and safely, and potentially game animals have had a slightly more enjoyable life than your average broiler. Furthermore, protecting areas for game can be part of conservation—but only when managed responsibly, and when all the inhabitants of the area are allowed space. Perhaps grouse moors should be managed for both the grouse and the hen harrier, so that they would remain even more exciting places to visit all year round, not just in the open season for the shoot?

So, the glorious 12th is probably only really glorious for the estate managers who charge per the bird shot.