Wildlife

White-Tailed Eagle Welfare After UK Reintroduction

White-tailed eagles reintroduced to England and Scotland face illegal persecution, power line electrocution, and conflict with livestock farmers.

Key Facts

White-tailed eagles were successfully reintroduced to Scotland from the 1970s and to England from 2019
They are the largest bird of prey in the UK with 2.5 metre wingspan
Illegal poisoning and shooting continues in some areas of Scotland
Power line electrocution has killed reintroduced birds in England
They occasionally take lambs causing conflict with sheep farmers

Welfare Considerations

Illegal poisoning using carbofuran or other toxicants causes agonizing neurological symptoms. Power line electrocution causes immediate death but risk is avoidable with simple insulation modifications. Conflict-related poisoning of livestock carcasses targets scavenging eagles. Young birds dispersing from natal areas are most vulnerable to persecution. Secondary rodenticide exposure through waterfowl prey is significant.

What You Can Do

Support RSPB and Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation eagle protection programs
Advocate for power line insulation programs in eagle range areas
Report suspected eagle persecution immediately to police and RSPB
Support compensation programs for farms affected by eagle predation
Donate to eagle monitoring programs tracking reintroduced birds