The warnings of serious unintended consequences came in submissions to the Parliament’s Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment committee, which is shortly to begin scrutinising the legislation. Among those slamming the proposals was the headkeeper of Strathspey estates, Ewan Archer . Strathspey is home to a nationally significant population of capercaillie, a bird which experts have predicted will be extinct in Scotland in 20 years in large part due to predation pressure. (Read more on the capercaillie here.) Ewan explained: “At Strathspey Estates, we are over 30% tree cover, the national average is 9%. We cannot use thermal imagers or spotlights in our expanding native woodlands. We do not set snares. We rely on our local footpack of 15 -20 hounds to flush the fox from extensive woodland covering many, many square miles.” The Government’s proposals would see that pack limited to just two hounds. Ewan explained that, “Two dogs do not produce enough noise and pressur