17 months (& waiting) for NatureScot to make decision on General Licence restriction relating to ‘shooting & killing’ of sleeping Golden Eagle called Merrick The Scottish Government’s nature advisory agency, NatureScot, has been now been procrastinating for 17 months on whether to impose a sanction on an estate in relation to the ‘shooting and killing’ …

17 months! What's the hold up? Why isn't this decision-making process a priority for NatureScot?

The consequences of this inaction were made v clear yesterday, with the suspicious disappearance of two more Golden Eagles in south Scotland.

#RaptorResearch

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Two Golden Eagles ‘disappear’ in south Scotland – Police appeal for information Press release from Police Scotland, 29 September 2025: APPEAL FOR MISSING GOLDEN EAGLE Detectives are appealing for information after a satellite-tagged golden eagle disappeared in the hills to the…

Two Golden Eagles 'disappear' in south Scotland - Police appeal for information raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/09/29/t...

Red Kite found dead in Perthshire confirmed to have been poisoned (banned pesticide + rodenticides) Press release from Police Scotland (24 September 2025): BIRD OF PREY FOUND TO BE POISONED IN PERTH & KINROSS AREA Enquiries into the death of red kite are ongoing. On 22 June, 2025 a dead red k…

Red Kite found dead in Perthshire confirmed to have been poisoned (banned pesticide + rodenticides) raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/09/24/r...

‘Reclaim Our Moors’ – local residents in Sheffield & North Derbyshire start campaign for community ownership of ‘trashed’ grouse moors Around 40 local residents from Sheffield and North Derbyshire have started a campaign to bring local grouse moors in to community ownership. The group ‘Reclaim Our Moors’ held its inaug…

'Reclaim Our Moors' - local residents in Sheffield & North Derbyshire start campaign for community ownership of 'trashed' grouse moors raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/06/19/r...

Two men charged in relation to illegal killing of Red Kites in Cairngorms National Park Police Scotland has today issued a short statement as follows: MEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF RED KITES IN ABERDEENSHIRE Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with w…

Two men charged in relation to illegal killing of Red Kites in Cairngorms National Park raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/05/02/t...

NatureScot capitulated on grouse moor licensing after legal threats by game-shooting industry Regular blog readers will know that I’ve been trying to uncover the reasoning and process behind NatureScot’s sudden decision last autumn to change its approach and amend the brand new …

When NS appoint their new CE the first question to ask the organisation is 'who are we working for, the game bird shooting industry or nature conservation? NatureScot capitulated on grouse moor licensing after legal threats by game-shooting industry raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/01/24/n...

NatureScot fails to make any compliance checks on use of new grouse moor licences As many of you will be aware, the 2024 grouse shooting season in Scotland (12 Aug – 10 Dec 2024) saw the use of grouse moor licences for the first time ever, introduced by the Wildlife Manage…

NatureScot fails to make any compliance checks on use of new grouse moor licences raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/01/21/n...

UK Governments must decide on lead ammunition restrictions by March 2025 – you can have your say to help bring about a ban In December 2024, long-delayed recommendations by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) for restrictions to be placed on the use of lead ammunition in the UK were finally published. Used shotgun …

UK Governments must decide on lead ammunition restrictions by March 2025 - you can have your say to help bring about a ban raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/01/07/u...

Fully funded PhD available: The Impacts of Avian Influenza and Toxicants in Scottish Raptors The University of Edinburgh is seeking applications for a fully-funded PhD scholarship (4 years) on the subject of The Impacts of Avian Influenza and Toxicants in Scottish Raptors. SUMMARY This pro…

Fully funded PhD available: The Impacts of Avian Influenza and Toxicants in Scottish Raptors raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/01/02/f...

Stobo Hope – did GWCT ‘advice’ help avoid an Environmental Impact Assessment on the destruction of black grouse habitat? (Guest Blog) The following is a guest blog by someone who wishes to remain anonymous, although I know their identity. STOBO HOPE – DID GWCT ‘ADVICE’ HELP AVOID AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSME…

Another fantastic piece of analysis from RPUK. Stobo Hope - did GWCT 'advice' help avoid an Environmental Impact Assessment on the destruction of black grouse habitat? (Guest Blog) raptorpersecutionuk.org/2024/12/22/s...

‘Why are birds of prey still being killed in Scotland despite new legislation?’ – special report in The National The National newspaper published a special report on Monday 16 December 2024 entitled, ‘Why are birds of prey still being killed in Scotland despite new legislation?’, with a particular…

'Why are birds of prey still being killed in Scotland despite new legislation?' - special report in The National raptorpersecutionuk.org/2024/12/19/w...

Two satellite-tagged hen harriers that disappeared from a winter roost both found dead with shotgun pellets lodged in their bodies Natural England has today posted a blog updating the status of three brood meddled satellite-tagged hen harriers, which had previously been reported as ‘dead, awaiting post mortem’ (x 1…

Two satellite-tagged hen harriers that disappeared from a winter roost both found dead with shotgun pellets lodged in their bodies raptorpersecutionuk.org/2024/12/18/t...

NatureScot is stalling on releasing overdue FoI documents relating to its grouse moor licensing shambles There appears to be something very dodgy going on at NatureScot (NS), the Scottish Government’s statutory advisor on nature conservation. There’s been some shocking behaviour in recent …

NatureScot is stalling on releasing overdue FoI documents relating to its grouse moor licensing shambles raptorpersecutionuk.org/2024/12/18/n...

RPSB launches interactive map showing fates of satellite-tagged hen harriers Over the last 17 years or so, satellite-tracking technology has revolutionised our understanding of not only hen harrier ecology, but also the persistent, illegal killing of these birds on driven g…

RPSB launches interactive map showing fates of satellite-tagged hen harriers raptorpersecutionuk.org/2024/12/17/r...

Please vote for Ruth Tingay of RPUK, she has been nominated as 'Campaigner of the Year' in TGO Reader Awards 2025. She has done, and is doing, so much for environmental causes. Thank you. thegreatoutdoorsmag.com/awards/reader @raptorpersuk.bsky.social @chrisgpackham.bsky.social