The only reason indiscrimate poisioning is on the increase is the goverment has failed to allow a provision in the law to deal with protected species such as raptors that maybe causing problems, when you force keepers etc into a corner then something is going to happen. I do not know of any licences granted to deal with protected raptors, however many have been granted to deal with cormarants, which is strange as cormarants and raptors have the same protection status!! I'm sure most keeper given the choice would choose the legal route!!!
Choose the legal route or the easier route? Indiscriminate poisoning is just that. Indiscriminate.
I, not that long ago, recovered a Golden Eagle and a Fox poisoned on the hill side. A Golden Eagle johhnytheboy, a status symbol of our great nation. Similarly I've recovered a White Tail Sea Eagle, Buzzards galore and a host of other mammals and birds.
I've listened to opinions and views galore in relation to both sides. Raptors will take game birds of that there is no doubt. Buzzards are more common now than at any other time in living history so is there an argument for selective culling? Possibly.
Or are there other methods that can be taken to ensure that they don't take game birds?
Badgers are a good example. Calls galore for culls down south from areas rife with bTB. Why do we not have it in Scotland? Our methods of cattle movement are better controlled and managed. We dont have have any notable bTB here as a result.
Seals. The new Marine act has come into place which hopefully will reduce the killing of seals which in the main can be controlled by other measures but there are hardly any license applications to shoot seals.
I just get annoyed when the hunting, shooting, fishing brigade get on their high horse shouting from the rooftops that only they can be for the benefit of the countryside.
In my experience it is quite a way away from the truth. Some of the biggest, localised destruction I have seen of habitat and wooded areas is on the Islands on Loch Awe from fishermen who go there, between trees butchered for firewood, litter and human waste left and fishing line strewn all over the place it's shocking!