Press release from Police Scotland (2 May 2025)
APPEAL FOR INFORMATION AFTER TWO BIRDS OF PREY POISONED IN CASTLE DOUGLAS, DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY
Officers are appealing for information after two birds of prey were poisoned in Castle Douglas.
On Thursday, 10, April 2025, a member of the public found a dead red kite and wood pigeon on Castle Douglas Golf Course.
Following enquiries, it was established that the red kite had been poisoned, and the wood pigeon was used as poisoned bait.
On Tuesday, 15 April, a second dead red kite was found nearby. The two birds have ingested the same type of highly toxic poison, resulting in their death.
National Wildlife Crime Coordinator Detective Sergeant David Lynn said: “Red kites are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and it is illegal to kill this protected species.
“Poisoning a bird or animal is not only cruel and callous, but it can harm other wildlife as well as members of the public. The use of this poison in a public area is extremely dangerous and poses a significant risk to anyone who comes into contact with it.
“Our enquiries are ongoing, and we are working with our partner agencies to establish the full circumstances of this incident. We would urge the public not to handle any dead animals they may find in this area of Castle Douglas, and if there are suspicious circumstances, I would ask you to report this to police.
“I would appeal to anyone with any information about the poisoning of these birds to contact us.”
If you saw anything suspicious or have any information about poisoning in the area, please contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident 0785 of 10 April.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.
ENDS
Raptor Persecution UK 
What’s wrong with the North that they keep commiting these atrocities….it’s seems far worse than in the South,it’s disgusting in fact shameful behaviour.
Hi Tracey,
It’s just as bad in England, Wales and N Ireland, I’m afraid.
“What’s wrong with the North…”
First, let’s start with the fact that the City of Oxford is officially considered to be ‘in the North’ as far as the Football Association is concerned:-)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/national-league-north/table
‘the North’ being a relative term.
“it’s seems far worse than in the South”
As far as UK-wide raptor persecution is concerned, there is far less high moorland south of, say, Birmingham, than there is north of it, hence far less habitat for Red Grouse to breed in the wild. (Attempts to captive breed Red Grouse for shooting have always failed, I am led to believe)
I think we know about the special blood relationship between the ‘sport’ of shooting Red Grouse – for ‘relaxation and exhilaration‘ – and the industrial, illegal, persecution of raptors: to artificially boost Red Grouse numbers for ‘the shoot’.
That blood relationship is not quite so pronounced with lowland ‘game’ shooting activities – predominant in ‘the south’ below Birmingham – largely because the Pheasants, Partridges and Mallard used as living targets are essentially intensively farmed before being ‘let loose‘, and are therefore not subject to as much natural avian predation affecting their numbers.
(Of course, their other predators are still killed, but that is not always illegal.)
Hence, there isn’t quite the same incentive to persecute raptors in ‘the south’.
However, it still goes on… Goshawks, Buzzards, Red Kites, Peregrines, Short-eared Owls.. even White-tailed Eagles, are still illegally persecuted, with Dorset – for example – being something of a hotspot.
Note: Sandringham is north of Birmingham:-)
“The Guardian has identified 18 cases since 2003 involving suspected wildlife offences or the alleged misuse of poisons, linked to the royal estate…”
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jul/02/sandringham-royal-estate-linked-to-many-deaths-and-disappearances-of-protected-birds
Two consecutive reports of kite persecution in Scotland . Should we be surprised given how the Scottish Government allowed ScotNature to water down the new legislation to render it ineffectual.
and yet when one of their own (I.e. disgruntled shooters) plant poisons on their land the gamekeepers can spot and report it within an hour. Why did this poisoning go unnoticed? Perhaps the gamekeepers were too close that they couldn’t see the wood for the trees.
Or maybe there aren’t any Gamekeepers on a GOLF COURSE.
Pathetic sentencing of these criminals in the courts give these vermin extra bravado to commit such crimes
Hello thanks for all you do Could you post this reply to above post- but not give my name as I could be traced with reprisals
Am concerned at all your posts , but this rings bells as I am near to Castle Douglas area
Lots of shooting estates spring to mind but also can somebody tip off police that it would be worth putting pressure on , investigating some of the pigeon racers in the area- some I know for a fact keep strong poison in shed and very frequently talk of their hatred of falcons , buzzards and kites , because they attack the pigeons. Not mentioned that they ( the pigeon racers) wring many of even their successfulpigeons necks at age 4 when they could live up to 20 , and kill others not performing well before that
Please can you not publish my name
[Ed: Thanks xxx for your comment – if you have specific knowledge about the keeping of ‘strong poison in shed’ please do contact the police and pass that information on to the local wildlife crime officer. It’s an offence in Scotland to be in possession of certain proscribed poisons]