Dog walkers avoid Capercaillie woodland
Dog walkers in an area important for capercaillie are keeping their pets under control or on a leash, a survey conducted by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has revealed.
The woods at Boat of Garten are a breeding site for the birds, which are sensitive to disturbance by people and dogs. The work was carried out to examine walkers’ behaviour following an innovative community-backed campaign to promote responsible dog walking.
Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) and the community, with Seafield Estate and SNH, have put in place measures aimed at reducing disturbance to the protected species.
A community ranger, signs and newsletter articles ask people to keep dogs on a short lead during April – August in the parts of the woods most sensitive for capercaillie where the wooded habitat best suits capercaillie brood-raising. The scheme helped prevent disturbance from dogs ranging off paths while the birds were breeding.
Anne Elliott of SNH said: “The survey found there have been some startling changes since the campaign started. Overall, there has been a big reduction – 66% -- in the number of visits by people with dogs in the sensitive part of the woods. The proportion of dogs on leads has increased from 17% to 37%, and 71% of dogs are now assessed as being under close control.
“Capercaillie chicks and eggs are especially vulnerable to disturbance by dogs, as they cannot escape. If the hen is driven away, the brood can become chilled, or killed by the dog, and is more vulnerable to attack from predators such as crows or foxes.”
The organisers had been hugely encouraged, she said, by the “dramatic changes” in the way people with dogs were using Boat of Garten woods for recreation.
“These results show many dog walkers are now avoiding the area most sensitive for capercaillie in the breeding season, and others are taking extra efforts to keep their dogs under control. We know that capercaillie have bred successfully in these woods in 2012 and 2013, so all credit to local dog walkers who have changed what they do and where they go to allow these charismatic birds to raise young with less disturbance.
“This research also has wider benefits. As far as we know, it’s the first time anyone in the UK has collected ‘before and after’ hard evidence to show how people have changed their recreational behaviour in the light of an awareness-raising campaign. The findings will be useful for recreation managers across the country.”
A key success factor had been the enthusiasm with which the local community had got behind efforts to promote responsible dog walking. “Without their action and support I’ve no doubt this campaign would have been far less effective.”
The Cairngorms National Park Authority have welcomed the findings of the report.
Hamish Trench, the CNPA’s Director of Conservation and Visitor Experience said: “The Cairngorms National Park and particularly Strathspey are really important to the future survival of capercaillie so we are delighted to hear that the efforts being made by a range of partners to encourage people to change their behaviour, especially dog walkers, is proving successful. Capercaillie in this particular area have been doing better in the last two to three years and I’m sure that people changing how they recreate in the woods has contributed to this along with predator control activities and some good weather.”
Alison Fielding, from Boat of Garten Community Council, said: “We are very pleased that the capercaillie have bred successfully again this year. The survey shows that the community value their wildlife and are willing to keep their dogs under control when walking in the woodland. The support of our community woodland ranger has been instrumental in helping both locals and visitors understand the value of our woodland habitat.”
