MORE than a quarter of a million animals are killed each year on Scottish shooting estates to allow grouse to thrive so they can then be shot for the blood “sport,” a report revealed today.

The League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) found that 260,000 animals were killed each year in an attempt to totally eradicate foxes, stoats, weasels and crows to increase the number of grouse for so-called sport shooting. 

In its report Calculating Cruelty, the campaign group found that 57,000 killing devices are deployed each day in Scotland.

But nearly half of the animals killed are “non-target” species such as hedgehogs, dippers and mistle thrush. 

The study also found that failure to comply with existing codes of practice is widespread on Scottish grouse moors.

It also found that practice guidelines produced by professional organisations that represent the shooting industry appear to serve “little useful function.” 

LACS Scotland director Robbie Marsland said: “These figures have shocked and appalled us. 

“This is the most comprehensive, quantitative study of predator control. It gives an illustration of the grim reality of Scotland’s grouse moors.

“Our report leaves us in absolutely no doubt that managing such large parts of Scottish moorland for an industry which makes a woefully low contribution to the economy is entirely misguided and outdated.”    

Mr Marsland said that driven grouse shooting “is surrounded by a circle of destruction which is Scotland’s hidden shame. 

“This cruelty and willful disregard for the environment and our wildlife needs to stop once and for all starting with a complete ban on all snares and traps,” he added.