Prominent Scottish landowners have united to condemn any person who illegally poisons birds of prey or other protected species.
In an unprecedented move, over 200 signed a letter to Environment Minister Rose-anna Cunningham calling for the “full weight of the law” to be brought to bear on those who illegally kill raptors.
The move comes after the remains of three golden eagles, a buzzard and a sparrowhawk were found during the first week of May on or near the grounds of Skibo Castle, near Dornoch, Sutherland. Police are investigating if poisoning was involved.
The letter states: “It is widely recognised that wildlife management is a complex business that continually throws up new challenges, but nothing can justify illegal activity. It is for us a straightforward decision to underline our view of illegal poisoning. Frankly, we condemn it out of hand and it has to stop.
“Those of us who live and work in the Scottish countryside are appalled by such behaviour. The only thing that is achieved by such acts is the undermining of the excellent work that is done day in, day out on Scottish estates by owners, land managers and gamekeepers in terms of animal welfare and conservation of Scotland’s natural heritage.
“The message must go out to the people who indulge in such criminal behaviour that what they do is totally unacceptable to the overwhelming majority who have the true interests of the countryside at heart.
“We will continue to do everything we can to ensure that message is conveyed across the land management sector. We do not presume guilt nor refer to any particular incident, but the apparent deliberate poisoning of protected species in recent years has left us utterly dismayed.
“We also support the full weight of the law being brought to bear on those who are involved in illegal poisoning and endorse the efforts of the Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime, in which our representative organisations are active and enthusiastic participants.”
The estates said that while wildlife crime had been repeatedly deplored by land management and rural organisations, efforts to eradicate illegal poisoning would be strengthened by individual owners and estates stating their position clearly.
More estates are expected to declare their support in the coming weeks. Signatories include the Duke of Westminster of Reay Forest Estate, Charles Wolridge-Gordon of Esslemont Estate, Ellon, the Earl of Seafield, of Seafield and Strathspey, Lord Aberdeen, of Haddo Estate, the Duke of Argyll and the Duke of Roxburghe, Kelso.
An RSPB Scotland spokesman said: “We are glad that a lead has been taken in the light of recent reported crimes and others that are still under investigation. The use of illegal poisons and traps must not be tolerated and has no place in a modern Scotland.
“Estate owners and managers now need to take responsibility for getting this message across to their staff, and rooting this problem out once and for all.
“Killing adult golden eagles, red kites and other scarce species is a very serious crime, more serious than the theft of eggs in terms of its impact at a population level, and the courts must use the sentencing options they have to send an unequivocal message to wildlife criminals.”
Andrew Salvesen, who runs pheasant shoots on his Findrack and Tillyfour estates near Banchory, said: “The reason I added my name and that of the estate as signatory is that these poisonings are isolated incidents that happen in Scotland from time to time.
“The letter to Roseanna Cunningham is to demonstrate that the majority of landowners – 99.9% of them – behave in a responsible manner within the law.
“It is to reiterate that we do not condone anyone misbehaving and breaking the law.”
Sutherland Estate manager Chris Whealing welcomed such a united intervention and said about 10,000 acres of the 70,000 acres on that estate were dedicated to conservation management.
He added: “We don’t have commercial pheasant shooting and don’t consider birds of prey a problem, more an attraction for tourists.
“At Sutherland, we are working closely with windfarms, crofters and the RSPB and are involved in a wide-scale project to manage a large area for raptors.”
Peter Hingston, of Fairburn Estate, near Muir of Ord in Easter Ross, said: “A lot of the blame goes on keepers because they are easy game. But they are not stupid and it is not in their interests to poison birds and the landowners would not approve of it.”
He added: “Instances of poisoning must have been planned with a purpose. Those doing so are running risk of being charged. I find it extraordinary that anyone would do this.”
The raptors recently found dead are being tested for poison in Edinburgh, and a police spokeswoman said they were still waiting for the results.
Anyone with any information about the deaths of the birds is asked to call Northern Constabulary on 0845 600 5703 or Crimestoppers 0800 5511.