Wildlife Crime in Scotland 2023

Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA): Chemistry Branch

The Chemistry Branch at SASA investigates suspected animal poisoning incidents as part of the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme. SASA provides data on the total number of incidents investigated, the number of those incidents attributed to pesticides and the number of incidents considered to be abuse. Pesticide use is considered to be abuse where it is used in breach of authorisation conditions with the deliberate intent of harming wildlife or other animals.

There has been a decrease in recent years in pesticide incidents considered to be abuse.
Figure 9: Pesticide incidents investigated by SASA Chemistry Branch, according to type, 2018-19 to 2022-23.

From Figure 9 it can be seen that the total number of pesticide incidents investigated in recent years has remained broadly similar, ranging from 174 to 217. The number of incidents attributed to abuse in 2022-23 has remained at a low level (3 out of 174; 2%) compared to higher level reported in 2019-20 (20 out of 217; 9%).

Three birds of prey were poisoned in a single incident in 2022-23.

Figure 10: Bird of prey poisonings investigated by SASA chemistry branch, 2018-19 to 2022-23.

As shown in Figure 10, the number of bird of prey poisoning incidents investigated remains low (1 incident each year in 2021-22 and 2022-23) compared to earlier years. However, three peregrine falcons were poisoned in the single incident in 2023.

Further detail: of pesticide incidents investigated by the SASA Chemistry Branch is provided in Tables 26 and 27 of the Tables supporting document.