The National Gamekeepers' Organisation

Keeping the Balance™

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Public Supports Predator Control

11 May 2009

New independent research* published today by a coalition of rural and conservation groups shows that the public supports the control of predators to protect threatened species.

The survey, carried out by ORB for the National Gamekeepers' Organisation, the Countryside Alliance and the Moorland Association, found that:

 

  • Eight out of ten (80%) think that people should intervene to help declining bird species rather than ‘just leave it to nature'.

 

  • Six out of ten people (60%) think that raptors should be controlled if they are damaging wildlife and livelihoods, despite eight out of ten (80%) being unaware that there are more raptors than at any time since records began.

 

  • Two thirds of respondents (66%) support the work of the RSPB, and eight out of ten (84%) believe that the organisation should carry out predator control on its nature reserves.

 

  • Eight out of ten (81%) also believe that gamekeepers, who carry out predator control as part of their jobs, have a positive impact on the countryside.

 

Simon Hart, Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, said:

 

"For years everyone from the Government to the RSPB has run scared of being open and honest about the need to control some species for the benefit of others.

 

"This research shows that many of the assumptions about public opinion that have driven policy and spending on wildlife management are, quite simply, wrong.

 

"We live in a managed landscape. People understand that it is necessary to control predators to protect declining species and maintain a balance".

 

Lindsay Waddell, Chairman of the National Gamekeepers' Organisation, added:

 

"I am particularly pleased with the public acceptance of gamekeeping. The NGO can take a lot of the credit for the change in attitudes seen over the last ten years."

 

*Fieldwork was conducted by Opinion Research Business ORB 13th - 15th March. Representative telephone survey of 1,004 adults aged 18+ in UK. Full data available below:

 

Q1. Do you think there are more or less birds of prey, such as buzzards and sparrow hawks, in the UK today than at any time since records began?

All respondents

Base: 1004

More

20%

Same

11%

Less

60%

Don't know

9%

 

 

Q2a. The RSPB currently controls some birds and mammals on its nature reserves in order to protect other wildlife.  Did you know that they carry out such control?

All respondents

Base: 1004

Yes

56%

No

44%

 

 

Q2b. Do you think that they should carry out such control?

All respondents

Base: 1004

Yes

84%

No

11%

Don't know

5%

 

 

Q3. In your opinion, if a type of British bird is in decline (that is the number of birds of this type in the wild is falling) should we try to help or just leave it to nature?

All respondents

Base: 1004

Try to help

80%

Leave to nature

18%

Don't know

2%

 

 

Q4. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

All respondents

Base: 1004

The law rightly allows people to kill wild predators, such as crows and rats, in order to protect other wildlife

Strongly agree

29%

Agree

47%

Disagree

15%

Strongly disagree

7%

Don't know

3%

If a type of bird in decline is being killed by birds of prey, professionals should be allowed to intervene

 

Strongly agree

17%

Agree

40%

Disagree

25%

Strongly disagree

12%

Don't know

5%

Birds of prey should be controlled if they are significantly damaging wildlife on which the livelihoods of people depend

 

Strongly agree

20%

Agree

40%

Disagree

24%

Strongly disagree

13%

Don't know

4%

The government should use taxpayers' money to boost the numbers of birds of prey in the wild

 

Strongly agree

13%

Agree

29%

Disagree

35%

Strongly disagree

20%

Don't know

4%

The work of gamekeepers has a positive impact on wildlife in the countryside

 

Strongly agree

28%

Agree

53%

Disagree

10%

Strongly disagree

3%

Don't know

5%

 

Q5. What, if anything, of the following have you ever done for the work of the RSPB?

All respondents

Base: 1004

NET: Done anything

66%

Donated money once or twice

55%

Bought RSPB products

38%

Joined as a member

11%

Helped to raise funds

11%

Done other voluntary work

10%

Donated money on a regular basis (i.e. once a month or more)

8%

Given an RSPB membership to someone

6%

Other

5%

None of these

34%

 

Q5(rebased). What, if anything, of the following have you ever done for the work of the RSPB?

All who had done anything

Base: 662

Donated money once or twice

84%

Bought RSPB products

58%

Joined as a member

17%

Helped to raise funds

17%

Done other voluntary work

16%

Donated money on a regular basis (i.e. once a month or more)

12%

Given an RSPB membership to someone

9%

Other

8%

 

 

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