Police Scotland have arrested a 56-year old man as part of their investigation into the shooting of a red kite on a grouse moor on Lochindorb Estate earlier this week.
It’s hard to keep up with all the raptor persecution news this week, but this is the red kite that members of the public witnessed being shot on the grouse moor on Monday 27th March 2023 at around 11.15am. The Scottish SPCA attended the scene along with Police Scotland but unfortunately the kite’s injuries were so devastating that the bird had to be euthanised (see here).
Police Scotland issued a very fast appeal for information on Tuesday, saying they were particularly interested in finding witnesses who might have seen quad bikes or off-road vehicles in the area on Monday morning.
Yesterday afternoon (Friday 31st March 2023) Police Scotland issued the following short statement:
Arrest after bird of prey shot near Grantown-on-Spey
A 56-year-old man has been arrested and released pending further investigation after a bird of prey was shot near Grantown-on-Spey.
Officers received a report of a bird being shot around 11.15am on Monday, 27 March, 2023, at the Lochindorb Estate.
ENDS
Great work by Police Scotland. Let’s hope they find sufficient evidence to charge someone for this latest shooting.
Raptor Persecution UK 
Another shot in the foot for the grouse moors. They can’t help themselves.
……when will these idiots learn!! Do not shoot/kill bop…it is illegal and eventually you will get caught….and your freedoms/pastimes/sporting rights could well be removed!!
They have had since 1954 ( Protection of birds Act) and this was upgraded in 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act so all the evidence would suggest that they are incapable of taking this on board. Most of them get away with it so “en Masse” they think they are untouchable. Rude awakening when they get caught, then again most punishments barely fit the crime. One hopes the promised legislation will work and drive home the point of if you keep doing this your ” sport”, business, pastime, living etc is doomed– for me the sooner the better. One might also ask these dimwits what problem are Kites, not that it justifies anything.
Agree with you but just thought I would add the “justification” for killing kites that I heard down the years – was mainly about disturbance. Predation is minimal, so they’re not bothered about them in winter – but come spring the keepers reckon they really stress the nesting hen grouse during laying causing smaller clutches to be laid, etc, etc.
I had heard that also the same complaint as about harriers on shoot days because kites often fly low. I doubt ” stress” plays any part in clutch size, not that there is ANY excuse for their criminal behaviour. For example I have regularly flushed , mainly by accident a Mallard here in the garden yet she is incubating 12 eggs.
Myself, I think there is a (very) small bit of truth in it – i.e. that aggregated over all of the GPS mapped-out tiny territories of hundreds /thousands of grouse pairs over the whole of an established moor that is already on top of everything else…there will be a fractional impact (a slight “under-optimisation” of clutches &
therefore average brood sizes) resulting from things like the disturbance by kites, buzzards, even herons. Problem as we all know, is the industry is just too greedy to say, “oh, well it can’t be helped, leave the kites alone and let’s just be thankful that we are able to enjoy owning a moor and shooting grouse in the first place”.
Exactly, well said.
The sooner these Grouse Moors are shut down and used for more inclusive leisure pusuits the better for our wildlife and the local communities
I largely agree bu the last thing many of our moorland nesting waders and raptors need is more people present on the moors.
Firearms are constantly being used to commit wildlife crime and yet I see no action by the government to make getting and keeping firearms a lot lot harder. Crimes like this are all the eidence they need for a change in firearms laws
Remind me. Just why gamecreepers (and feel it necessary to carry firearms.
What would a gamekreeper expect to kill of his own volition? That is , legally,
To assist in the work of his employer?
So assuming these estates are not even fit to use a general licence, will they be considered suitable to operate a licenced grouse moor?
No amnesty at the launch!
A HUGE thanks to the member of the public who “got involved” as without them being prepared to act on their courage of conviction this crime would never have been known about and would have just been anbother of the “winged vermin” to brag to his friends about. Theyt’ll have somehting other than bragging on their mind now.
I hope everyone follows their example if they should be unfortunate enough to come across a situation like this or, indeed, any other sign of illegal activity related to wildlife crime.
Are the police beginning to act more quickly, at last? Let’s hope so.
Good to hear that the Police are investigating an individual. The main problem is obtaining sufficient evidence to satisfy a court. Not seen committing the act means no charge and the case goes down the drain.
However we live in hope, perhaps the individual may plead guilty to the offence, am I dreaming, probably.
Hope this leads to a conviction and then robust sentencing. How much longer is the Scottish Government going to let this go on for?
Sorry to put a dampener on this, but the fact that someone has been arrested doesn’t necessarily mean the suspect will be charged.
Whilst I am delighted Police Scotland have made such an early arrest in this investigation, my fear is that if this arrest doesn’t lead to a charge and subsequent conviction at court, then the person responsible for this crime could feel emboldened, and form the belief that they are “untouchable”, and so just carry on committing further similar offences in the future.
This could also have an impact on the local community which may also see any failure to charge as a reason to believe that law breakers can operate freely without fear of prosecution.
I understand that due to the infrequent contact with the police in many rural areas, then it is not uncommon for some members of these rural communities to feel that their actions will often go unnoticed by the law. Hopefully the local media, and local social media is all over this incident, and should this arrest then lead to a charge and conviction then this will help break down any myths regarding the belief that perpetrators of these raptor persecution crimes are “untouchable”.
It will be worth following this case with interest.
just let him off. no point in prosecuting, the judges are corrupt, and in the pockets of the elite. nothing meaningful will happen that will discourage this behaviour.
How do you explain that 56 gamekeepers have been convicted of illegal raptor persecution in Scotland alone, since 1990?
I think the word “meaningful” is the point that was being made.
“I think the word “meaningful” is the point that was being made.”
So you think we should ‘just let him off”? That there is “no point in prosecuting”? That “the judges are corrupt, and in the pockets of the elite”?
Really?
I agree Steve Bye, nothing meaningful will happen these people should automatically have their firearms licences revoked. We could try petitioning for them to have their licences revoked if anyone thinks it would be any use. It would act as a half decent deterrent not just a punishment.
Totally agree with this they should never be allowed to have any gun licence for the rest of there luves
I’m not very familiar with Scottish law on firearms, but, why is the suspect shooting where the public can see. Is that not a bit close for comfort.
COWARDS!… killing these magnificent creatures for their own selfish gain using pathetic excuses that theyre getting in the way of them killing other species of birds… Forget the measly penalty fines as its clearly not stopping them. I’d like to see them face an equal match of animal. How about we put them in a cage with hungry lions, a pit of venomous snakes, or take them to Cape Horn and see how they fare against great white sharks. Makes you wonder how many of these shootings and poisonings go undetected…
No gamekeepers no grouse moors,no grouse moors all birds of prey and wildlife suffer dramatically! Unfortunately century’s ago man disrupted this balance.we seem to forget this.Im not defending the persons actions at all but we need to understand the bigger picture.Farmers are doing there job to provide food for human consumption and have nationwide support without protest as its how we survive.The RSPB/SNH are happy to support certain selective species to be culled to controll their populations for survival however this is positively supported.Why do we support animals locked in cages at zoos and wildlife parks?.Does RSPB,SNH ect actually realise what the true numbers are out there? they are often in doors sitting behind computers more often than out on the field gathering true facts from the countryside,oh and getting paid government money to do this.they seem happy to keep protecting and introducing big numbers of certain species of wildlife but do not consider the negative impact to promote a sensible/healthy population.this is why we see huge numbers of badgers spreading TB and being killed on roads and are happy to support and enforce out of season mass deer culls to protect trees because man interrupted the natural process.
Who provides this wildlife management that sustains healthy habbitats for a huge variety of species?gamekeepers do!Controling and balancing numbers promotes sensible feeding and disease protection providing a healthy population of many wildlife species.The sport side of things is not for the gamekeepers leisure,it’s a way of controlling the numbers using the people who class it as there sport thus massively bringing money to local business’s and supporting the economy.Man interrupted and caused the problems centuries ago and man needs to balance this to fix the problem.No gamekeepers no healthy wildlife populations and also another negative impact to the economy.
And todays whataboutery-laced, parroted propaganda award goes to…
Crikey!
“No gamekeepers no grouse moors,no grouse moors all birds of prey and wildlife suffer dramatically!”
So how do you explain the abundance of wildlife BEFORE gamekeepers existed?
“The RSPB/SNH are happy to support certain selective species to be culled to controll their populations for survival”
Is that what gamekeepers are doing – controlling populations of raptors and other predators just so that red grouse can be shot in their millions?
“Does RSPB,SNH ect actually realise what the true numbers are out there?”
Yes.
“they are often in doors sitting behind computers more often than out on the field gathering true facts from the countryside”
How on earth do they manage all their nature reserves, and produce all their statistics, then?
“seem happy to keep protecting and introducing big numbers of certain species of wildlife”
Oh? Which species are being introduced in big numbers, then?
“this is why we see huge numbers of badgers spreading TB and being killed on roads”
Are Badgers an introduced species, then? Since when?
“enforce out of season mass deer culls to protect trees because man interrupted the natural process.”
Who cleared the Highlands of Wolves, Brown Bears and Lynx? It wasn’t the RSPB, was it?
“Who provides this wildlife management that sustains healthy habbitats for a huge variety of species?gamekeepers do!”
No, they do not. They drain natural wetlands, damaging peat stores, burn the natural vegetation just to produce an unnatural monoculture of water-logged-hating heathers, and then kill all our natural predators, just to benefit Red Grouse, which you lot then shoot!
“No gamekeepers no healthy wildlife populations”
And yet there was a far greater abundance of wildlife BEFORE gamekeepers existed.
You are being seriously delusional and/or dishonest.
Whilst you are correct in that humans have catastrophically impacted the balance of the natural world, how do you explain the huge loss of wildlife and nature in the last 50 years? The evidence that industrial farming and terrible land management practices are responsible for this are indisputable. It is why the UK government have changed how farm subsidies are going to paid in the future with far more emphasis on sustainable farming and environmental conservation. Blaming the spread of bovine TB solely on badgers is just simply no longer credible.
Whilst there are some shooting estates and game keepers who really understand the important role they play in wildlife and nature conservation, there are far too many who are too happy to engage in poor wildlife and land management practices or criminal behaviour to create a totally unnatural game bird population to satisfy a fee paying shooting clientele.
I think you will find organisations such as the RSPB , SNH and other organisations such as the Wildlife Trusts have a great many field workers who have a far greater understanding of the state of nature than many of those who work in the countryside and are responsible for destruction of the nature and huge decline of so many species which now face extinction thanks to their mismanagement of the natural environment.
The myth about a select few wealthy shooters visiting the countryside during the shooting being vital to rural economies was disproved a long time ago, and most estates now host a diverse range of activities to ensure they remain economically viable.
If you can provide factually correct evidence to support your claims, then please do so, but I think you will find that the evidence to the contrary is far more substantial.
Dear Ruth
Could you let me know if anyone else keeps getting a pop up saying Suspicious Link with 2 options saying don’t open or open anyway?
I have these a lot from your blogs…..I open anyway but why your blog???
Many thanks Di Gill
[Ed: Hi Di, I’m not aware of any site security issues and have checked this morning – all seems fine]
PS this link says ” the reputation of raptor p etc is unknown ….do you want to continue’ ….?
I’ve never seen anything like this anywhere else? Seems to come from Google? It might prompt other concerned people not to go any further onto the blog?
Wild Justice is an organisation I’m very proud to be connected to.
Kind regards Di Gill
Di, Sounds like you may have a virus or some malware in your computer? I would suggest running an antivirus/ malware program to see whether the source can be identified? The raptor persecution website opens fine on all my devices with nothing detected by the firewalls to suggest anything amiss. I certainly wouldn’t recommend clicking on any links.
Well stated Bob, but I think your flogging a dead horse on here.
Real problem in the countryside is the increase in footfall by the great unwashed.
Any raptor persecution is a big no no for the 99 percent of participants in Legal fieldsports.
Most on here are blinkered.
How many foxes have been shot by the RSPB last year.
Steve.
A member of the great unwashed claims “Any raptor persecution is a big no no for the 99 percent of participants in Legal fieldsports.”
Untrue.
“How many foxes have been shot by the RSPB last year.”
How many animals were snared by the shooting industry last year?
You’re quite right. You and Bob ARE “flogging a dead horse”. So why bother when those here are obviously wise to your fabrications and tiny-minded right wing opinions.
It is that percentage of participants in field sports who are criminals and do engage in raptor persecution which are the problem, and I would suggest these criminals make up a far greater percentage than you imagine or want to admit.
Those working in the game shooting industry have had plenty of time to expel these criminals from within their midst but have failed to do so.
This may be because the illegal persecution of raptors suppresses the number of raptors nationwide, and if raptor numbers were able to return to more natural levels, then this could have a detrimental effect on game bird numbers across all estates, and not just those where the criminal activity is taking place.
As to an increase in footfall in the countryside. This can be a problem, especially as many visitors seem to be completely unaware of the countryside code, and any increase in visitors especially to sensitive habitats could have a detrimental effect on wildlife, especially those creatures which are disturbed by the presence of humans. But those extra visitors, if educated in how to treat the countryside with respect could actually help reduce wildlife crimes, as they would be potential witnesses to the crimes which get committed.
It would be interesting to compare the number of raptor persecution incidents reported by visitors compared to the number of incidents reported by game keepers, and others who work in the countryside.
One would think that those who work in the countryside would have far more opportunity to witness wildlife crimes and report such crimes to the police. If visitors are reporting more crimes, then this begs the question- why?
It is worth noting that the particular crime reported on in this blog was reported to the police by members of the public. The Red kite was shot. One would think that those working on that estate would have been aware of the presence of an individual on the estate in possession of a firearm, and would have been alerted to the sound of it being used. So, if as you claim raptor persecution is a “no – no” for 99% of those engaged in field sports why was it members of the public who reported this incident to the police?
I agree with you John L well said.
Keith and Coop,
Sorry if I touched a nerve.
Snaring and the shooting of foxes are legal in this country. Trespass on the other hand is a civil offence.
Just stating that mass public footfall can cause as much damage to the environment.
Thanks for calling me tiny minded and right wing.
Good shooting,
Steve.
“Just stating that mass public footfall can cause as much damage to the environment.”
The public that you refer to as “the great unwashed”. Your superiority complex writ large. I stand by my previous comment.
“Snaring and the shooting of foxes are legal in this country”
You’re the one who brought up shooting foxes. The reason I mentioned snaring is that your lot, the great unwashed, kill indiscriminately in order to increase red grouse numbers, just so that you can enjoy using them as target practise. If the RSPB ever have to shoot foxes, it is to preserve very rare species, and is very uncommon. Mostly, the RSPB erect electric fences whenever possible.
“Just stating that mass public footfall can cause as much damage to the environment”
What? As much damage as the great unwashed do, draining the uplands, burning the flora and fauna every year, spreading medicated grit everywhere, building tracks to get the lazy, great unwashed to their butts, spreading lead over the landscape, and slaughtering every predator for miles and miles around, whether legally or illegally. You don’t care.
I would suggest the legality of snaring foxes is questionable. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 makes it an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to any animal covered by the legislation. This includes wild animals temporarily captured. It is well documented that snares cause great distress and suffering to trapped animals, and many suffer horrendous injuries in trying to escape.
So a fox during the time it is trapped in a snare will most probably suffer. The question is whether this suffering is “unnecessary”. One argument is that the very nature of a snare will cause unnecessary suffering and so their use is not compatible with the Animal Welfare Act, the other is that if the provisions regarding the use of snares is followed to the letter then the suffering is kept to a minimum and therefore not deemed “unnecessary” as the suffering is inherent in the use of the snare.
It would have been better if parliament had banned the use of snares as it would have clarified the position without doubt.
Hopefully as our understanding of animals increases and humans more readily accept that they are not simply “dumb brutes” but intelligent, sentient beings that suffer both physically and emotionally, then better legislation will be in acted to protect them.
Until then, those who are unable to act with true compassion towards animals will use snares, those who value animals will question the compatibility of snares with the Animal Welfare Act and find far more human methods to trap and remove unwanted animals from their land.
It is not an offence to trespass on open access land, as by definition the land is open access – the majority of grouse moors are open access land. However, I do think wandering over a moor in bird breeding season is not a good idea and should be discouraged unless their is a valid reason to stray from paths. Certainly endangered ground nesting birds do not need increased human encroachment onto their breeding sites.
Trespassing on farm land can be a problem, especially if that is done by poachers and hare coursers – but the individuals engaging in this behaviour are criminals just like those who persecute raptors.
The criminal persecution of raptors associated with game shooting is inexcusable, and something that those engaged in game shooting should not tolerate, but will often ignore, as the criminal behaviour helps ensure an unnatural supply of game birds.
If there was no criminal persecution of raptors then game shooting would probably not come under the criticism that it does- perhaps if it was properly regulated and licensed, so that the criminal activity stopped you would be able to get on with your shooting and campaigners could enjoy accessing the uplands to watch Hen Harriers, Eagles and Red Kite???
We will probably never agree.
However, I feel any person shooting or destroying raptors deserves the full weight of the law.
The topic is raptors, not specifically grouse moors.
Also , snares.free running and checked daily is legal.
I speak from England, so variations (potential) in Wales and Scotland will muddy the waters.
I run a small shooting syndicate and we enjoy seeing our raptors.
Not everyone is bloodthirsty.
I think sometimes we all desire some of the same things, but extremism is the real enemy.(from both sides).
Steve.
Wrong again. There is nothing extreme in requiring the shooting “industry” to act in an environmentally sustainable manner, and comply with the law of the land.
Oh, and the “topic” is…
Arrest made in relation to red kite shooting on Lochindorb Estate grouse moor.
If he is found Guilty he should go directly to jail.