Shot Peregrine found during investigation on Scottish estate

A Peregrine Falcon was found shot dead on a grouse-shooting estate in Scotland during a police-led multi-agency raid that unveiled cage trap abuse.

The discovery in the Strathbraan area of Perthshire – a well-known wildlife crime hot-spot – came in November 2020 after police were following reports of suspected wildlife crime taking place on the estate. The estate in question has previously been under investigation for alleged wildlife crime offences.

The falcon was found inadvertently during the raid. Ian Thomson, Head of Investigations at RSPB Scotland, tweeted the above picture of the Long-eared Owl and said: “The dead peregrine was found during a police/SSPCA follow-up to incidents of cage trap abuse on the same estate – eg this Long-eared Owl had been illegally held in a trap, in pouring rain, for more than 24 hours. In my opinion there is no legitimate reason for a grouse moor be using crow traps in October … "

More information is available on the Raptor Persecution UK blog here.