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Message: <blockquote data-quote="James Blake" data-source="post: 1708340" data-attributes="member: 16170">Hi allWhether this isotope analysis is accurate, I feel sure Eagle Owls do occur here as natural vagrants, even if only once in a blue moon - just because so many far less likely vagrants do turn up.Yet this is not the same as saying the Eagle Owl is a native breeding British species.  It puts it rather in the same category as Canada Geese - a sprinkling of vagrants, and a large population derived from introductions/escapes.  I'd guess the number of vagrant Eagle Owls turning up here must be tiny - thus the lack of records from east coast watchpoints.  Like vagrant Canada Geese, I imagine they'd never have been able to establish a breeding population.I always look at wildlife issues from both a conservation and an animal welfare point of view.  It seems to me unlikely these owls will ever be a mjaor problem for other species in Britain. But on the precautionary principle, I'd like to see these Eagle Owls removed now, while there are still few enough of them for it to be feasible to do it by non-lethal means (pricking eggs, capturing chicks and maybe adults for relocation to the continent).  cheersJames</blockquote>