The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Fears over raptor poison
Fears have been raised that children and animals could be harmed by Police Scotland policies surrounding their investigation of bird of prey poisonings.
North-east MSP Lewis Macdonald has written to Chief Constable Philip Gormley highlighting concerns that people enjoying a walk in Scotland’s hills could accidentally come into contact with toxic substances used to kill raptors illegally.
In his letter, Mr Macdonald highlighted that police forces in England make the public aware of the details of such cases.
He also argued some forces, south of the border, erect signs to let the public know poison is suspected to have been used in certain areas.
Officers in Scotland can choose not to take such measures, due to fears it could compromise investigations.
Det Chief Supt Sean Scott, wildlife crime, said: “Police Scotland withholds information in only a very few cases.”
The Scottish Wildlife Trust has been awarded a grant of £2.46million from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the scheme.
The project aims to provide high-quality training and support to hundreds of local people and land managers to take on roles in the long-term protection of the country’s red squirrels.
Scotland is home to fewer than 120,000 red squirrels, three-quarters of the UK population, and they are under threat from competition with invasive non-native grey squirrels and the spread of the deadly squirrelpox virus.
Dr Mel Tonkin, Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project manager, said: “Our work since 2009 shows that through targeted control of grey squirrels it is possible to reverse the decline of our native reds and help them to return to former territories.
“Red squirrels are one of Scotland’s most-loved species. Thanks to National Lottery players we will be able to empower communities to help protect not just their local red squirrels, but major populations of the species in Scotland, and ensure that future generations can continue to see these special animals.”
The project will focus on three key areas, including the central lowlands, where co-ordinated control of grey squirrels aims to prevent them from becoming established to the north of the “Highland line”.
In Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire, where grey squirrel populations have been significantly reduced in the last eight years, the project will continue to work towards making the area a grey squirrel-free zone by developing a rapid response system to detect and remove them.
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “This investment to protect our red squirrels is very welcome as they are a priority species. Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels has led important work to conserve them since 2009, so it is fantastic that players of the National Lottery will help to mobilise communities to take practical action to protect one of our bestloved animals.”
The Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project was founded in 2009 and is led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust in partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Land & Estates, RSPB Scotland and the Red Squirrel Survival Trust. It is illegal to release a grey squirrel into the wild in Scotland. Grey squirrels caught to control their numbers are caught in cage-traps and “dispatched in the most humane way possible”, the Scottish Wildlife Trust said.
“This investment to protect our red squirrels is very welcome”