Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Sea eagles blamed for lamb deaths

Rosamond Hutt,Pa
Tuesday 23 September 2008 02:40 EDT
Comments
(RSPB)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Scottish farmers are blaming sea eagles for the deaths of hundreds of lambs, it was reported today.

The birds of prey were brought from Norway as chicks and raised in aviaries before being released into the wild in the north-west Highlands.

But according to the BBC, farmers in the area claim the eagles have killed more than 200 lambs and are calling for more to be done to tackle the problem.

The birds are being reintroduced by RSPB Scotland, SNH and the Forestry Commission as part of a five-year conservation project.

Fifteen white-tailed sea eagles were released last month and William Fraser, chairman of Gairloch and Poolewe branch of the Crofting Foundation, said he believed these birds were responsible for the killings.

Speaking to Radio 4's Farming Today, he said: "This year has been particularly bad. The crofters know how many lambs they put out after lambing season and one woman has lost 50% of her animals.

"She actually saw a sea eagle lifting a lamb from her field and flying off with it.

"We've had lambs that have had their necks sliced, they then can't lift them and are found going round in circles."

However, the RSPB told the BBC it had inspected one nest containing the remains of a number of lambs and said it did not believe the birds were behind all the deaths.

A spokesman for Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) told the Scotsman: "We are aware of these concerns and very surprised at the numbers being talked about. There is no doubt that they will take lambs, but usually dead or weak ones, and we've never heard of it being done on this scale."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in