Scotland holds the vast majority of the UK golden eagle population with around 500 pairs. These magnificent raptors face threats from illegal persecution, wind turbine collisions, and prey scarcity on degraded moorland.
Lead poisoning from ammunition fragments in deer carcasses causes neurological impairment, weakness, and slow death. Persecution including poisoning and shooting causes acute suffering and removes breeding adults from the population. Disturbance at nest sites during the breeding season triggers nest abandonment, leaving eggs and chicks to die of exposure. Collisions with wind turbines cause traumatic injuries. Reduced grouse and mountain hare populations on over-managed moorland limit the prey availability needed to raise young successfully.