Eagle eggs stolen and mussels killed

Crime: Two incidents in last week investigated

POLICE have launched two major probes into wildlife crimes in the Highlands where golden eagle eggs have been stolen and rare pearl mussels killed.

Separate appeals have been launched into the incidents, both in the Badenoch and Strathspey area.

Eggs were reported stolen from a golden eagle nest in Kincraig just days after the empty shells of endangered freshwater mussels were discovered on the River Spey.

Golden eagles are one of Scotland’s most iconic birds with major conservation work being undertaken to protect the majestic birds. A spokesman for Scottish Natural Heritage condemned the egg thefts, adding: “Egg collecting has declined as a threat to this and other species recently, so this incident is particularly disappointing.”

Police have launched a major probe into two serious wildlife crimes in the Highlands – including the theft of golden eagle eggs.

Wildlife officers are also investigating the killing of freshwater pearl mussels from the River Spey.

Police believe an audacious egg collector was responsible for the theft of eggs from a golden eagle nest which was disturbed in the Kincraig area on Monday.

Wildlife crime officer Constable Daniel Sutherland said: “We can confirm that the tree has been climbed and the eggs stolen from within the nest.

“We are working with the landowners who are supportive of wildlife and are extremely disappointed that eagles nesting on their ground have suffered at the hands of egg collectors.

“Stealing from the nest of a wild bird is illegal and anyone found to be involved in egg collecting will be robustly dealt with.”

Ian Thomson, RSPB Scotland’s Head of Investigations, said: “It is depressing that this Victorian hobby persists among a small number of people. Golden eagles face enough challenges without this human interference. We appeal for anyone with information about this incident to report it.”

In a separate

“Anyone involved in egg collecting with be robustly dealt with”

investigation, police yesterday revealed that a number of freshwater pearl mussels were removed from the River Spey last weekend.

The remaining shells from the endangered species were discovered by a member of the public around a quarter of a mile downstream of the Old Spey Bridge in Grantown, near a fishing hut.

Reporting officer Constable Andrew Courts said: “Pearl mussels are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and this illegal persecution is extremely disappointing.

“Those responsible would have been in the shallow waters for some time to remove this number of shells and on the bank opening the shells in an attempt to locate a pearl.”

Scotland has a total of 21 designated sites for pearl mussels, holding about half of the world’s population.

But over the past 100 years, freshwater pearl mussels have disappeared from more than a third of the Scottish rivers they were once found in.

Susan Davies of Scottish Wildlife Trust said: “Stealing eggs from nests is a disgraceful act that has no place in Scotland.”

PROTECTED: Stealing eggs from the nests of wild birds is illegal and could result in six months in prison