Wildlife Crime in Scotland 2023

Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC): Veterinary Services

SRUC Veterinary Services is a division of Scotland's Rural College (SRUC). While not a government agency, the work of the Veterinary Services team includes post mortem examinations on wild birds (under the Wild Bird Disease Surveillance budget) and on wild mammals (under the Animal Welfare budget). These budgets are funded by Advisory Activity grants-in-aid from the Scottish Government.

Carcasses may be submitted for examination due to the suspicion of a potential wildlife crime. These come predominantly from Police Scotland, with substantial contributions from the RSPB and the Scottish SPCA. Small numbers of carcasses come from other conservation or wildlife organisations, or from members of the public. Where a wildlife crime is suspected following examination of a carcass submitted by non-law-enforcement agencies, the police are notified, to allow investigation to proceed.

When providing data, SRUC noted that the spread of avian influenza during this period is likely to have affected the numbers, locations and diagnostic success pertaining to wildlife carcase submissions. Many bird species, and a small number of mammal species, were subject to testing for avian influenza and carcase storage until a negative result was received. Any carcase which tested positive for avian influenza could not be subjected to a full post-mortem examination, but in some cases, radiographic findings were also available at the time of submission.

Figure 11: 121 cases were submitted to SRUC Veterinary Services in 2022-23 where wildlife crime was suspected, of which 84 were birds
Cases submitted to SRUC Veterinary Services where wildlife crime was suspected, 2018-19 to 2022-23.

As shown in Figure 11, total cases submitted to SRUC where wildlife crime was suspected in 2022-23 (121 cases) were generally lower than in recent years, although similar to the level in 2019-20 (125). In 2022-23, 84 bird cases were submitted, of which 18% (15 cases) were identified on further investigation* as crime related. Of the 37 mammal cases investigated, 49% were identified on further investigation as crime related (18 cases).

*Further investigation may refer to post-mortem examination, radiography, toxicology, and any other tests appropriate to the carcase and investigation.

For mammal cases, road traffic collisions were the most common cause of death where no criminality was suspected. Where potential criminality was still suspected after further investigation, attack by a dog or dogs was the most common cause, then snaring, followed by shooting. Mammal submissions covered a wide range of species including squirrels, hares, otters, beavers, badgers, hedgehogs, foxes, and deer.

For avian (bird) cases, causes of death or injury were most commonly due to avian influenza this year by a significant margin, followed by blunt trauma of a type suspected to be non-criminal in nature, such as that caused by collisions with buildings/windows, road traffic, electricity pylons, wind turbines, fences, trees, and other objects. Failure to thrive/starvation and miscellaneous non-influenza illnesses were also seen. Shooting (by shotgun or by air rifle) was the most common cause of death or injury where criminality was still suspected following further investigation; poisoning and the use of spring traps were also seen. The range of species submitted included birds of prey, songbirds, pigeons, swans, gulls, geese, ducks, and corvids.

Further detail: of the cases submitted to SRUC as suspected wildlife crimes by year and offence category is provided in Table 28 of the Tables supporting document.