Two red kites have been discovered poisoned at Castle Douglas Golf Course in Dumfries and Galloway, prompting a police investigation. A member of the public found the first dead bird, along with a wood pigeon, on Thursday, April 10. Subsequent inquiries revealed that the red kite had been poisoned, while the wood pigeon appears to have been used as bait.
Just days later, on Tuesday, April 15, another dead red kite was located in close proximity, and it was confirmed that both birds had ingested the same type of highly toxic poison, leading to their deaths.
Detective Sergeant David Lynn, National Wildlife Crime Coordinator, remarked, "Red kites are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and it is illegal to kill this protected species." He added that poisoning wildlife is not only cruel but poses significant risks to both other wildlife and the public due to the dangerous nature of the poisons used in these acts.
Authorities are currently collaborating with partner agencies to gather further information regarding the circumstances surrounding these incidents. They have urged the public to refrain from handling any dead animals they might encounter in the Castle Douglas area and to report any suspicious findings to the police.
In a related note, police have recently arrested and charged two men in connection with a separate incident involving the death of a red kite in Aberdeenshire. This particular bird was reportedly shot in Glenbuchat between February 3 and February 4, 2025. Initial investigation efforts by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) failed to indicate a cause of death; however, subsequent investigations confirmed that the bird had indeed been shot.
Police Scotland reported that the two men, aged 39 and 42, will be reported to the Procurator Fiscal as part of ongoing wildlife offence proceedings related to the shooting.
The police have requested that anyone with information regarding the poisonings or any wildlife crimes in the area contact them at Police Scotland on 101, referencing incident number 0785 of April 10, or reach out to Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.
Source: Noah Wire Services