Bird control licences suspended at estate

NatureScot has restricted the use of general licences to control wild birds at an estate and woodland in the Borders amid concerns about alleged wildlife crime.

General licences will be suspended for three years at Raeshaw Estate and Watherston Wood in southern Scotland.

Scotland’s nature agency NatureScot said the decision was made based on Police Scotland findings relating to alleged wildlife crime against birds.

It said this included the sudden disappearance of a satellite-tagged golden eagle named Merrick which went missing from its usual hunting grounds across southern Scotland and northern England in October 2023.

NatureScot said the findings also included golden eagle blood, feathers and shotgun cartridge wadding recovered from the area.

Raeshaw Estate said it has “zero tolerance” for raptor persecution and remains “fully committed to respecting wildlife, nature and the environment”.

It also said that the licence restriction is “wholly unjustified” and said it will challenge the move “vigorously” through an appeal.

General licences allow landowners or land managers to carry out control of common wild bird species such as magpies and crows to protect crops or livestock, without the need to apply for an individual licence.

Chris Dailly, NatureScot’s head of licensing, said: “We have decided, in discussion with Police Scotland, to suspend the use of general licences on this land for three years until January 2029.

“The police have recorded Merrick’s disappearance as a crime and have provided robust evidence to NatureScot to support this.

“We are committed to using all the tools we have available to tackle wildlife crime.

“This measure will help to protect wild birds in the area, while still allowing necessary land management activities to take place.”

NatureScot said it believes this is a “proportionate response”.

It added: “We will continue to work closely with Police Scotland and consider information they provide on cases which may warrant restricting general licences.”

NatureScot said that individual licences may still be applied for, but that these will be subject to strict record-keeping and reporting requirements and will be closely monitored to ensure licence conditions are met.

A spokesperson for Raeshaw Estate said: “The decision by Nature Scot to restrict the estate’s general licence is wholly unjustified. We will challenge it vigorously through an appeal.

“We share the frustration felt by many about Merrick’s disappearance but there is no evidence the estate or any of its employees were in any way responsible.

“The estate has zero tolerance for raptor persecution and remains fully committed to respecting wildlife, nature and the environment.

“Merrick’s last established position was not on land owned or managed by our estate. The location was in a nearby wood where other parties have access and are permitted to shoot. No employee of the estate was charged as a result of a lengthy police investigation which concluded nearly 20 months ago.

“NatureScot has conceded there was an unacceptable delay in dealing with this case. We also provided expert veterinary testimony to NatureScot stating there was insufficient evidence to ascertain the bird had been killed by criminal means and that DNA analysis was inconclusive.

“In reaching its decision NatureScot confirmed the estate was not suspected of any other contraventions of land management regulations.

“This decision is even more disappointing given that NatureScot has acknowledged the estate is a supporter of the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project. We welcome the presence of eagles on the estate, and we enjoy frequent visits from the species.”