The dangers to farm animals have been known about by Scottish farmers and crofters for years.  However, conservationists have often claimed that sea eagles took only dead or weak animals.

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Then on 9 May 2019, the Daily Telegraph published extraordinary photographs of a sea eagle carrying a lamb to its nest to eat.

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This was followed by a BBC Countryfile including a video of a Scottish farm worker chasing two sea eagles from a lamb they had just killed.

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This episode of Countryfile also included interviews with farmers who had lost countless lambs which had been taken by the sea eagles.  Understandably, the National Farmers Union has opposed the introduction of these birds.

 

It has now been reported that there has been an 'admission' by Scotland's conservation agency that sea eagles are killing high numbers of healthy lambs and sheep.  Scottish Natural Heritage has published a series of documents recognising the growing impact on sheep from sea eagles.  According to these documents, on one farm alone an additional 181 lambs had been lost between 2012 and 2018.  Post-mortem examination of the lambs showed that most had been fit and healthy when attacked. [Daily Telegraph 31 May 2019]

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