Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
UK and European-specifi c laws. These afforded most Scottish raptor species the high level of legal
protection we now have today. However, such legal protection is only effective if it is properly
policed and enforced with adequate resources. The remainder of this section discusses the results of
peer-reviewed studies which have demonstrated that illegal raptor persecution is both widespread
and relentless even in the twenty-fi rst century in Scotland. It is affecting the recovery of several
important raptor populations. Poisoning, and particularly the use of baits laced with carbofuran on
grouse moors, is central to this issue.
Of all the methods used to illegally persecute raptors in Scotland, poisoning may be considered
the greatest actual or potential threat. In contrast to shooting and trapping, which requires a sustained
effort to produce a limited return, poisoning can have a substantial impact with minimal effort.
Poisoned bait continues to be lethal over a period of days, weeks or months, and can kill multiple
victims without further effort on the part of the culprit (RSPB 2009a). The raptors which are most
vulnerable to poisoning are those that regularly use scavenging as a foraging technique. In particu-
lar, these are the common buzzard (
Buteo buteo
), red kite, golden eagle and white-tailed sea eagle.
Table 6.3 shows the number of confi rmed raptor poisonings reported in Scotland between 1998
and 2010. Of 378 confi rmed cases, 261 (69%) were attributable to carbofuran. Carbofuran was
withdrawn as a legitimate agricultural pesticide in December 2001, yet, despite it being a criminal
offence to even possess the substance, it is the 'poison of choice' in the vast majority of recently-
recorded incidents (RSPB 2009a). Alpha-chloralose, aldicarb and mevinphos have also been used,
although they do seem to be less popular (RSPB 2009a).
These poisoning fi gures are considered to be conservative estimates at best (e.g., RSPB 2009a)
because persecution obviously often takes place on remote grouse moors where witnesses are absent
or limited. A poisoned victim usually tends to be discovered by chance, for example by a passing
hill-walker. However, using data from the ongoing Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme (Wernham,
Etheridge, Holling et al. 2008), population modeling can be used to infer the true extent of the impact
of persecution on raptor populations. Recent studies have demonstrated unequivocally that the popu-
lations of golden eagles (Whitfi eld, Fielding, McLeod et al. 2004; 2008), hen harriers (Etheridge,
Summers and Green 1997; Fielding, Haworth, Whitfi eld et al. 2011) goshawks (Marquiss, Petty,
Anderson et al. 2003), peregrines (Hardey, Rollie and Stirling-Aird 2003) and red kites (Smart,
Amar, Sim et al. 2010) are all severely constrained in parts of Scotland, as a direct result of illegal
persecution on shooting estates.
Despite these peer-reviewed scientifi c studies, that clearly demonstrate the link between illegal
raptor persecution and game-management, the game-shooting industry unfortunately continues to
deny direct responsibility, and claims that gamekeepers are being unfairly blamed (e.g., Dracup 2009,
SRPBA 2011). However, data collected on the occupations of the 21 people convicted for raptor
persecution offences in Scotland between 2003 and 2008 clearly show that 85% were indeed game-
keepers, and the remainder were (at 5% each): pigeon racers, farmers and pest controllers (RSPB
2009a). The shooting industry also often claims that the extent of raptor persecution is exaggerated,
and that 'just a few rogues' are responsible (e.g., Randall and Owen 2007). However, according to
Raptor Persecution Scotland (2010a), wildlife crime incidents have been reported on 77 different
estates between 1990 and 2010, which seems to illustrate quite clearly that illegal persecution is
considerably more widespread. Evidence of the potential widespread effect that such persecution
may be causing is further indicated by recent data which suggest an estimated 2 600 hen harriers
(approximately two-thirds of the predicted population) are 'missing' from apparently suitable breed-
ing habitat across Scotland. There is a clear relationship between areas where most hen harriers are
absent, and land managed for driven grouse shooting (Fielding, Haworth, Whitfi eld et al. 2011).
Unfortunately, while the game shooting industry fails somewhat to effectively tackle the
issue of illegal poisoning, it also has sometimes made some rather 'outlandish' claims which do
not help to create links of trust between conservationists/scientists, and the shooting industry.
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