Anger as pesticides are used to deliberately kill Scottish wildlife

A TOTAL of 159 animals died in suspected poisonings in just one year in Scotland, with a large number deliberately killed with pesticides.

Some 36 out of the 74 pesticide incidents were classed as deliberate and illegal attempts to poison animals, including the death of a golden eagle during 2009.

The figures, published through the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme, revealed a buzzard was poisoned by slug pellets, even though the pesticides had been approved.

A colony of honeybees died after being exposed to a pesticide normally used to control wasps.

Environment secretary Richard Lochhead said: "This report highlights the devastating impact that the irresponsible use of pesticides can have on our countryside."

Duncan Orr-Ewing, of RSPB Scotland, said: "The irresponsible use of pesticide continues to pose a serious threat to some of our rarest and most spectacular birds and wildlife."