White-tailed eagles have been successfully reintroduced to Scotland after extinction and face welfare challenges from lead poisoning, persecution, and territory establishment.
White-tailed eagle welfare has improved dramatically through successful reintroduction but individual welfare remains threatened. Lead poisoning from scavenged deer and sheep carcasses containing lead bullet fragments causes neurological symptoms and slow death. The switch to copper non-toxic ammunition by deer stalkers directly reduces this welfare risk. Illegal persecution through shooting, poisoning, and nest disturbance causes welfare harm and population suppression. Juvenile eagles dispersing from nest sites face higher persecution risk. Conservation monitoring including satellite tagging has revealed individual welfare outcomes and documented persecution incidents.