Wildlife

Wild Golden Eagle Food Welfare

Golden eagle nutritional welfare in Scotland is influenced by prey availability, competition with other predators, and lead poisoning from carrion.

Key Facts

Golden eagles require 0.5 to 1.0 kg of food per day depending on body mass and activity level
Prey includes mountain hares, red grouse, rabbits, and carrion in Scotland
Lead poisoning from spent rifle ammunition in deer carcasses causes chronic neurological damage
Competition with foxes and ravens for carrion affects eagle nutritional status in winter
Good breeding seasons correlate with high prey availability the previous year

Welfare Considerations

Golden eagles with insufficient prey face nutritional stress during breeding that reduces chick survival. Lead poisoning from carrion consumption causes neurological deterioration and immune compromise in affected birds.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for mandatory non-lead ammunition in stalking to reduce eagle poisoning
Advocate for prey management that maintains abundant alternative prey for eagles
Donate to organizations monitoring eagle nutritional status and advocating for lead-free ammunition