Scotland holds most of the UK golden eagle population, with illegal persecution remaining the most significant welfare and conservation threat.
Golden eagles killed through illegal persecution die from poisoning, gunshot, or trapping injuries, each causing varying degrees of suffering before death. Poisoned birds may survive for hours with neurological symptoms before death. Trapped birds experience acute stress and physical injury. The welfare impact of persecution extends beyond individual death to include surviving family members, as mate loss requires finding a replacement before breeding can resume. Disturbance of breeding pairs by human activity during the nesting period causes nest abandonment and chick mortality. Conservation efforts that reduce persecution directly improve the welfare of individual eagles and the success of breeding populations.