Wildfires such as those that have caused at least £100,000 of damage across Scotland could threaten the shooting season on the moorland estates of Perthshire and Angus.
Hundreds of firefighters have tackled blazes across the Highlands.
Rain was forecast for today but the people in charge of the famous estates of Airlie in Angus and Atholl in Perthshire had earlier voiced their concern that one moment of carelessness could see their grouse and deer shooting seasons go up in smoke.
Malcolm Taylor, who is the factor at Airlie Estates, warned hillwalkers to take extra precautions as a means of preventing a “catastrophic” wildfire on the Angus Glens.
Such a blaze would be especially devastating at this point, when grouse are laying their eggs ahead of the sporting season in Angus and Perthshire.
Mr Taylor said, “We just hope this will make people walking in the area take precautions against fires for example, not throwing cigarette ends away.
“It doesn’t seem practical to put signs up warning about these problems, but if the fires last much longer I might have to consider it.
“The grouse are beginning to nest now so any wildfire would cause a big problem. It could also push the deer up to the top of the hill that’s also an issue as many are carrying unborn calves at the moment.
“Long-term, something like this could be extremely negative for businesses in Angus. Loss of a big heather grazing area would be a disaster for sheep farmers.
“We have many visitors to the glens every year and this could be pretty serious for guest houses and hotels. I think the knock-on effect would really be quite bad for the local economy.”
Rural enterprises head at Atholl Estates David Greer said this had been the first year in recent times with no wildfires at Blair Atholl and he is anxious that continues.
He said, “In previous years they have been controlled and quickly dealt with and, apart from two years ago, we’ve not had to call the fire brigade in. But it’s a very high-risk time and the public must be wary of what they’re doing. It’s like a tinderbox out there and I’m praying for the rain.
“It is perfect weather for a fire and has been for four weeks now. Just something simple like a throwaway barbecue left out could start it off and I would appeal to the public to be so careful.”
Atholl Estates workers are schooled in fire fighting and prevention and the equipment used for controlled burning can also be turned to fire fighting.
“Having a rapid response plan it vital and I urge anyone who sees a fire to call immediately the fire service or landowner,” he said.
Dr Kathy Fletcher, scientist at the Game and Conservation Trust’s upland research unit at Dalwhinnie, said wildfires could badly affect moorland because they are much hotter than controlled fires. Unchecked blazes can rip through vegetation and wildlife and even sear peat beds, so recovery takes much longer.
She said, “It’s something people are concerned about at this time of year as ground-nesting birds are starting to nest and from now on, the risk is a fire will see them lose their nests.
“Heather burning stops by April 14 to avoid that happening and is designed to stop before nesting begins. The concern is if an accidental fire happens because it is not just the grouse that would be affected, so it’s a tense time.
“It’s more tense when the eggs are hatching because that’s when the chicks can be vulnerable to heavy rain as well, if their mothers can’t get out to get food.”
She said it can take up to two years to recover from a wildfire like those experienced in the Highlands.