Concerns over sea-eagle attacks on lambs

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Concerns over sea-eagle attacks on lambs 14/3/14

The predation by sea-eagles on the livestock of crofters was on the agenda of a well-attended meeting of the Cross Party Group (CPG) on Crofting held in the Scottish Parliament this week.

The meeting was convened by Convenor of the group,Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Jamie McGrigor said some crofters are reducing the size of their flocks or giving up on keeping sheep altogether due to sea-eagle predation in his area is having on local crofters.

Ewes are also being attacked by sea-eagles and may later dye from septicemia from the wounds inflicted by the sea-eagles’ talons.

He said crofters accept that foxes do also predate on lambs but point out that they can take action against fox predation.

Jamie McGrigor said: “ As well as the animal welfare issue in terms of crofters being unable to protect their livestock from sea-eagle predation, it was pointed out at the meeting that some lamb losses are becoming so great that they are preventing the traditional pattern of ewe lambs being replaced from within hefted sheep flocks.

“ A number of crofters made the point that they believes SNH should have ensured that there were adequate wild food sources on the hills and coastline in terms of fish and mammal species for the sea-eagles before they were reintroduced.

“I also expressed the view that mountain hares and rabbits had virtually disappeared from many areas of the North West and Argyll and that this represented the disappearance of a major food source for eagles.

“It was also pointed out that modern medicines had reduced mortality and black loss in hill sheep stocks which left less carrion as a food source. Another point raised was that the rules governing the burial of stock carcasses on farms and crofts mean the disposal of what would otherwise be a food source for the sea eagles.

“ While some management schemes are available designed to support crofters mitigate the impact of sea-eagle predation, many crofters feel these are completely insufficient and naturally want to be able to protect their livestock from attack and not receive a small form of compensation for lamb losses.”