A leaked report is now saying a Golden Eagle was recently found dead on the island of Harris; if toxicology tests confirm the bird had been poisoned, this will bring the total number of Golden Eagles illegally poisoned in Scotland during the last three weeks to 3. Can things really get any worst we ask? This time the dead bird was found dead in prime island habitat on the island of Harris, regarded as a breeding hot spot for Golden Eagles with upwards of 20 pairs. According to the RSPB the latest recovery brings the total number of Eagles found dead in the same region to 3 during the last 10 years. The two other eagles found were white-tailed eagles.
Police are investigating another suspicious golden eagle death- this time in one of the heartlands of the species. The Golden Eagle was found at Loch Langabhat on Harris at the end of June. Scotland’s first all year round observatory to allow the public to view Golden Eagles opened on the island earlier this year.
It is understood that the eagle was found by rangers working for the North Harris Trust, which runs the observatory on the island.
The area has one of the highest breeding concentrations of the Golden Eagles in Europe. About 20 pairs of Golden Eagles are resident on the island.
A police spokesman said: “We are investigating the death of a Golden Eagle on the island of Harris. Its carcase has been sent for analysis to see if it had been poisoned.”
The same day as the Harris eagle was found, toxicology tests confirmed that a Golden Eagle found dead near Morar in Lochaber in March had been poisoned by a banned pesticide.
Alarming to say the least – I hope all the primitives behind the increasing levels of hysteria and BS directed towards eagles in Scotland are happy with themselves. What really needs to happen is for one of these poisoners to serve some serious jail time – I won’t hold my breath though:(
PS: I wonder will we hear anything from Scottish Farming Reps or the SGA on these serious wildlife crimes??
The pole trap story is just the tip of the ice berg In 1971 as head forester on an estate in North Yorkshire my first job was to clear several \’pole\’ traps from a plantation. The ground was littered with dead owls. Also my trees were dead [before tubes] as the voles and rabbits had ring barked the young trees. Remove the predators and you end up with the real vermin!!-
john/jimmy – I couldn’t agree more!
Jimmy – I’d like to see their nuts out as bait never mind jail time …
John – almost a gamekeeper turned poacher, but your comments are brilliant! Why mess with nature, everything has purpose and place in this life!!!