The number of animals and birds poisoned by the illegal use of pesticides across Scotland is at a 10-year high, according to new figures.
The Scottish Agricultural Science Agency (SASA) revealed yesterday there were 190 incidents, including 50 that related to birds of prey, in 2007, compared with 144 in 1997.
The Scottish Government and a wildlife charity described the figures as “disgraceful and shocking”. Environment Minister Mike Russell said those who delib-erately lace food sources with poison which has killed red kites, buzzards, badgers and cats and dogs were “cruel”.
The Scottish SPCA said it feared that the figures reflected the “tip of the iceberg” because most wild animals hide away to die and their carcases are never found.
Spokeswoman Doreen Graham called on all eight Scottish police forces to recruit full-time, dedicated wildlife crime officers.
Lib Dem environment spokesman Mike Rumbles said he was concerned that Scotland’s laws on the issue, which are among the strongest in Europe, were “not being used effectively”.
“Scottish ministers must strengthen the enforcement of existing legislation to protect Scotland’s wildlife,” he said.
The SASA says a red kite and a peregrine falcon were poisoned by pesticide in Grampian in 2007. In May, two peregrine falcon chicks were found dead in a nest after they ate part of a contaminated pigeon carcase.
In the Highlands there were six incidents involving four buzzards and two red kites. A cat was found dead in a garden in February, 2007. A piece of blue stained cooked meat, contaminated with carbofuran, was found nearby.
A dead hare, which was poisoned, was found on open ground in an estate in the region in March. Over the same period in Tayside, five red kites were found dead.
Mr Russell said he was confident that a review of investigating and prosecuting, being carried out by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (Scotland) (HMICS) and the Inspectorate of Prosecution Scotland (IPS), would “get to grips” with the problem.
Grampian Police has a dedicated wildlife crime prevention officer, Constable Dave MacKinnon, who is based in Stonehaven. Earlier this month, the force and Tayside Police, which also has a dedicated wildlife officer in Alan Stewart, were praised for their progressive approach to tackling such crimes and held up as examples for other forces to emulate.
Northern Constabulary was criticised by the RSPB who said it could not understand why it did not have a full-time, dedicated wildlife officer given the nature of the force area.