The suite way to protect game

Let’s start by noting the words ‘predation control’, rather than predator. In managing game and wildlife, how many predators you kill is of no great relevance; rather it is the predation that you prevent that matters. As a consequence, shooting odd random predators is of no great moment. What is needed is an integrated plan that addresses all the main issues for the species that we wish to protect.

Nesting wild pheasants can lose eggs and chicks to birds such as crows, magpies, rooks, jackdaws and jays, as well as mammals including rats, stoats, weasels, mink and foxes. All these mammals can kill hens on the nest, too, and foxes will take adult birds at any time of year.

Simply picking a single species to control, or even