Gamekeeper admits poisoning raven (1 Viewer)

Gamekeeper admits poisoning raven

The head gamekeeper on an Aberdeenshire estate has admitted killing a raven by poisoning eggs on which they feed.

Hector McNeil, 56, has been a gamekeeper at the Glenbuchat Estate in Strathdon for 30 years.

McNeil also admitted keeping 118 common gull eggs and a banned pesticide. He will be sentenced next week.

Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard McNeil had poisoned eggs as a last resort after traditional methods to protect pheasant and red grouse numbers had failed.

The court heard the raven was struggling to survive in the Grampian area, with only two breeding pairs.

McNeil was charged with offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act after an operation by Grampian Police, the Scottish Executive's rural affairs department and RSPB Scotland.

The Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) said it deplored the use of poison and that a small number of poisoning cases should not be taken as a reflection on the professional gamekeeping community as a whole.



See news report at the following web address.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/5129080.stm

nirofo.

At least the SGA didn't try to condone what he did - a lot of other organisations nowadays do anything to excuse their members.
Do ravens really have that much impact on fowl numbers?

Yet another pathetic excuse.He shall probably get a £100 fine and warned about his future conduct.No doubt he shall have a fantastic reference from his employers,regarding how long he has worked there and how he has never done anything like this before....Pull the other one.After the poisoning of the Golden Eagle in May,the North East of Scotland is losing birds that only have a foothold in the area and what about all those Common Gull eggs ? Was he going for the World Record Omlette ? Through the book at him and send a warning to the other Gamekeepers in the region and dont fall for the Gamekeepers Association crap.

Tosser.


30 years experience ! - I shudder to think of what he has got away with.

SGA are dicks as well - they wanted the Scottish Executive to approve a Buzzard cull only a few years ago.

Get rid of the lot of them.............

Ditto to the above.

S. G.

griffin said:

Tosser.


30 years experience ! - I shudder to think of what he has got away with.

SGA are dicks as well - they wanted the Scottish Executive to approve a Buzzard cull only a few years ago.

Get rid of the lot of them.............

Click to expand...

Love your turn of phrase, Griffin. Agree absolutely.

Sandra