Illegal animal poisonings at highest level for ten years

Published on Monday 28 April 2008 22:25

THE number of illegal poisonings of animals, including rare birds of prey, has hit its highest level for a decade.

New Scottish Government figures reveal that at least 190 animals were poisoned last year – 50 were birds of prey.

One expert last night described the figures as the "tip of the iceberg", with the possibility that other cases were going unreported.

The report was published yesterday by the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency (SASA), a division of the Scottish Government.

The maximum penalty for illegal animal poisoning is six months in prison or a 5,000 fine, but figures suggest incidents are rocketing.

Golden eagles, buzzards, red kites, peregrine falcons, red squirrels, cats and dogs are among the animals found killed by poison.

The figures show that reported poisonings increased from 144 in 1997 to 190 in 2007.

Dr Mike Taylor, who wrote the report, said: "I think there is certainly more reporting and there's more awareness.

"We tend to get a lot of birds of prey reported, which people tend to notice more readily, but there's a strong suspicion that there are a lot of animals that are victims and just go into the undergrowth and die without being found."

He said that as well as incidents of wild-animal poisonings there have been pet cats and dogs poisoned in neighbourhood feuds. But the majority of deaths happen in the wild, mainly in Highland areas on shooting estates.

Dr Taylor said a common method was that granules of poison were put in the carcase of an animal, such as a rabbit or lamb, to entice the victim.

Usually the banned pesticide carbofuran is used, even though it is illegal to own it in this country and it has not been approved for use here since 2001. "Nobody should be able to get hold of it from the UK," Dr Taylor said.

"It is approved for use in other countries, but you would have to import it if you wanted to buy it."

Dr Taylor and his colleagues act as expert witnesses when poisonings end up in court, but he said prosecutions were all too rare as it was difficult to gather enough evidence.

"The prosecution hit rate is very low," he said. "We tend to see the smoking gun. It's either the bait and no victim, or the victim and no bait. The animal can go ten miles after picking up the poison. It's quite rare that you see the bait and the animal in the same place."

Keith Morton, the species policy officer for the RSPB, said: "There is a very serious problem out there and a very serious problem for birds of prey.

"It continues at unacceptable levels. What the authorities find out is probably just the tip of the iceberg. How big the rest of the iceberg is, we just can't be certain."

He said studies have shown poisonings were having a measurable impact on Scotland's golden eagle population. Their numbers are declining on grass moors in the east, and he said this has been directly linked to incidents of poisoning.

YOU CAN HELP

THE Scotsman is committed to helping the SSPCA catch those responsible for killing birds of prey and other wildlife. Call the National Wildlife Crime Unit on 01620 893607.

POISON PERIL

Poisoning investigations year on year

1998 167

1999 135

2000 167

2001 127

2002 158

2003 152

2004 121

2005 157

2006 177

2007 190