More Poisonings

The lambing season should be coming to an end now yet the apparent national spate of poisoning continues. Framers put out meat or carrion bated with poison to kill foxes who prey on their lambs. The farmers are probably also targeting hooded crows and magpies, since it is widely believed that these species also kill newborn lambs (the evidence for this is scant - in one study (Houston, Report on Hooded Crows and Hill Farming in Argyll, Dept of Forestry and Natural Resources, Edinburgh University, 1968) it was found that about 1 in 1700 lambs were killed by crows. In lowland areas the number is doubtless lower.) Poison is also put out to prevent grey crows from eating recently sown grain (see below).

Buzzard

However the big problem with the indescriminate use of baited meat is that it will also kill any other species that eats it, particularly birds of prey such as the recently returned buzzard. This is proving to be a major problem with the reintroduction of the white-tailed eagle in Kerry and the golden eagle in Donegal. Click here for the petition to regulate the use of poison.

Closer to home, poisoned buzzards were found near Knockbridge, County Louth last week. According to a piece in the Irish Times, "EIGHT RARE buzzards have been killed in suspected poisoning incidents in the northeast in the last two months. The National Parks Wildlife Service (NPWS) said yesterday it was investigating the discovery of buzzard carcasses on farmlands in north Dublin, Louth and Meath. The broad-winged birds of prey have only recently re-established themselves in Ireland after becoming extinct in the early 20th century through poisoning and hunting." According the Dr Maurice Eakin of the NPWS, "the true number of buzzards being poisoned may be far higher, as birds often retreat to secluded spots to die after consuming contaminated food and their deaths may go unnoticed". The article continues, "Experts believe the buzzards may be consuming poisoned bait intended for grey crows which are known to eat recently-sown grain."