Red kite found poisoned in Sutherland suffered ‘agonising death’, says RSPB
A banned pesticide which can kill pets and humans has been found in a poisoned bird of prey close to a Sutherland woodland walk.
The red kite was found dead on the ground by a dog walker near to the popular trail at Spinningdale, west of Dornoch.
RSPB Scotland said the bird would have endured an “agonising death” and warned that use of the outlawed pesticide also puts pets and people at risk.
The charity received a call in April this year and its investigators notified Police Scotland. The bird was collected and sent for a post-mortem examination and toxicology analysis.
The results were consistent with Carbofuran poisoning being the cause of the bird’s death. The pesticide has been banned for over 20 years and the RSPB said that one quarter of a teaspoon of it is enough to kill a human.
Police Scotland and partner agencies conducted a search of the area but found no evidence that enabled them to identify a suspect.
It is a crime to kill or attempt to kill a bird of prey, and anyone caught doing so faces a fine or jail.
Ian Thomson, RSPB investigations manager, said: “We are very grateful to the person that found this dead kite for reporting it to us. It is appalling that individuals are still using this poison, decades after it was banned, and this bird will have suffered an agonising and horrific death.
“Carbofuran is a highly toxic substance and is one of several banned pesticides still used by criminals targeting birds of prey or other protected wildlife. Its possession or use is illegal and placing it out in the open poses a potentially deadly and indiscriminate risk not only to wildlife but to people and pets.
“We ask anyone using the area to be vigilant if they find anything suspicious, don’t touch, but do take photos and report to Police Scotland immediately on 101.”
The latest Birdcrime report, released last month, found there were 159 poisoning incidents involving birds of prey between 2009-2024 in Scotland. In recent years, Carbofuran has become the pesticide most frequently associated with bird of prey persecution.
The Highlands had the second highest number of confirmed incidents of raptor persecution during the same 15-year period.
As well as contacting police on 101, anybody who notices a dead or injured bird in suspicious circumstances can fill in the RSPB’s online reporting form at: www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/wild-bird-crime-report-form
Anybody with information about people killing birds of prey which they wish to report anonymously should call the RSPB’s confidential Raptor Crime Hotline on 0300 999 0101.
