Poison plea after death of eagles

A PLEA was issued yesterday to farmers not to use poison in meat bait after it was confirmed two white-tailed sea eagles found dead in Co Kerry, two weeks ago, had been poisoned.

Toxicology tests at the regional veterinary laboratory in Cork found the young birds, a male and a female, had consumed two different poisons.

The birds were among 15 eaglets brought from Norway to Killarney National Park, last year, as part of a nature conservation project which has met with some sheep farmer opposition.

Project director Dr Allan Mee yesterday declined to speculate on whether the birds had been deliberately poisoned, but said “99.9% of these cases would be accidental”.

Both birds were found to have consumed Alphachloralose, used for killing crows, and Trodax, a dose for liver fluke in sheep and cattle. The substances can be purchased in pharmacies and agricultural stores.

Dr Mee revealed small traces of Alphachloralose were found in another of the white-tailed sea eagles which died late last year in the Killarney area. He could not say if it was the sole cause of its death.

Gardaí meanwhile, are continuing their investigations into the deaths of the two eagles last month. Their carcasses were found in the sheep-farming Glencar area, west of the MacGillycuddy Reeks.

Results of tests on a sheep carcass found near the two birds are still awaited.

Dr Mee appealed to farmers to be careful when laying poison for foxes or vermin.

“I would appeal to farmers not to use poison at all, but especially not in meat bait. Only meat bait will attract eagles,” he said.