Bird traps found on moor

The discovery of a series of illegal bird traps baited with dead rabbits in the Cairngorms National Park has been described as “appalling” by the RSPB.

Two walkers first came across one of the spring traps when they found a common gull floundering and bleeding on the ground.

The pair had been walking Geallaig Hill near Ballater, Aberdeenshire, on June 27, when they saw the legs of the bird caught in two traps.

Police have spoken to the land managers but it is not known who set the traps.

Ian Thomson, RSPB Scotland’s head of investigations, said: “We hope that this appeal to the public will yield more information to bring those responsible for this appalling crime to justice.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Gamekeepers Association said: “This is the first we, as an organisation, have heard about this, so we will take time to make the appropriate inquiries.”