New tactics warning as raptor poison cases at record low
● Figures prompt campaigners to call for grouse moor licensing system
Recorded cases of bird of prey poisonings are at a record low, with just one case recorded in 2017 - however experts warned that criminals are using “new tactics” to avoid detection.
This is the lowest total in a single year since the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) Scotland began compiling data from 2004 onwards. However, despite the drop in recorded incidents, data from satellite tagged raptors continues to show birds disappearing in unexplained circumstances, with persecution strongly suspected in many cases. There was a further 36 per cent fall in all recorded bird of prey crimes during 2017, according to the Scottish Government figures, with nine confirmed crimes compared to 14 the previous year.
Species illegally killed in 2017 incidents included buzzards, owls, and a hen harrier, while the golden eagle, osprey and merlin were victims of disturbance cases. In addition to the poisoning incident, there were two shootings, two illegal trappings and three cases of disturbance.
The news comes days after campaigners complained that Police Scotland had not made public information about a poisoned peregrine falcon, which was found dead in the Pentland Hills in May.
Duncan Orr-ewing, head of species and land management
0 The hen harrier was one species illegally killed in 2017
at RSPB Scotland, called for a licensing system for grouse moors. He said: “We welcome the latest statistics produced by Scottish Government, whilst remaining vigilant about new techniques being employed by wildlife criminals to target birds of prey in known hotspots, as evidenced by the continuing suspicious disappearance of satellite tagged golden eagles and hen harriers. “
Dr Ruth Tingay of Raptor Persecution UK said: “When you add in the number of satellite-tagged golden eagles and hen harriers that have disappeared in suspicious circumstances as well as consider the continued absence of certain
raptor species in areas managed for driven grouse shooting, the evidence suggests that raptor persecution crimes are not decreasing at all.”
Scottish Gamekeepers Association chairman Alex Hogg said the organisation had expelled six members in six years for wildlife crime convictions. He said: “In 2010, in Scotland, there were 22 cases of raptor poisoning which was unacceptable. Seven years on, we are looking at one case, with shooting and trapping reduced substantially as well. Few, if any, types of crime in this country have declined at such a rate.”