White-Tailed Eagle Welfare and Reintroduction in Scotland and England

White-tailed eagles, Europe's largest eagle, were extinct in the UK by 1918 but have been successfully reintroduced and continue to expand their range, raising both welfare and stakeholder management challenges.

Key Facts

White-tailed eagles were reintroduced to Scotland from Norway beginning in 1975, with subsequent programmes in England
The UK population now numbers over 150 breeding pairs, primarily in Scotland
White-tailed eagles face ongoing threats from illegal persecution, lead poisoning from ingesting shot-contaminated prey, and collision with power lines
A reintroduction programme to the Isle of Wight began in 2019, with birds now breeding on the English mainland for the first time in centuries
White-tailed eagles are protected under UK law and their persecution carries serious penalties
Conflict with farming communities, particularly over lamb predation, requires careful management
GPS tracking programmes provide valuable data on movements, survival, and welfare-relevant events

Welfare Considerations

White-tailed eagle welfare is threatened primarily by illegal persecution, lead poisoning, and power line collisions. Reducing lead contamination in the food chain - through use of lead-free ammunition by game shooters - would directly reduce lead poisoning incidents. Raptor monitoring programmes provide early warning of welfare problems and help identify illegal persecution. Stakeholder engagement with farming communities, including support schemes for affected farmers, is essential for building the social licence that allows eagle populations to thrive. As range expansion continues into England and Wales, proactive welfare monitoring and conflict management will be increasingly important.

What You Can Do

Support the RSPB and Royal Society of Biology raptor monitoring and protection programmes
Advocate for mandatory use of lead-free ammunition to reduce raptor lead poisoning
Report suspected raptor persecution to the police and RSPB
Engage with rewilding discussions about large raptor range expansion and coexistence