Falconry World

The Scotman Newspaper has reported that the largest ever cache of poison intended to kill birds of prey has been discoverd in a two month period on the Scottish borders. By Robert Fairburn and Andrew McWhirter Six buzzards were among the birds killed after 25 carcases of rabbits and hares were laced with the banned substance carbofuran.

The carcases were found within one square mile of countryside near Greenlaw, Berwickshire on five occasions between March and September last year.

Police were first alerted by a member of the public in March last year. However, it is understood that progress on the investigation has been slow because the baits were found over a number of bordering private estates.

Bird experts last night said that this was the biggest number of poisoned baits recovered from one particular location in Scotland and said the find underlined the importance of getting to grips with the growing poisoning problem.

A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said: “This staggering level of illegal activity goes to show that poisoning is, sadly, still considered par for the course by some people in Scotland.