Predator protectionism backfires

Scotsman:

Environment Correspondent

SEA eagles reintroduced to Scotland have been enjoying a diet that includes threatened species such as short-eared owl and puffin, a survey has revealed.

Volunteers have been examining the contents of the nests of the giant birds on the Western Isles over the past two years.

Members of the Outer Hebrides Bird Group discovered the most common food eaten by the bird of prey was seabirds, particularly fulmars.

However, remains of mountain hare, puffin, short-eared owl, raven and even red deer were found in the nests.

Fragments from lambs were also discovered by the volunteers, whose findings are recorded in the 10th Outer Hebrides Bird Report, funded by Scottish Natural Heritage.

A spokesman for SNH said he was "surprised" by some of the rare species in the sea eagles' diet, and he said there are plans to carry out further research to find out more about what they eat.

James Reynolds, spokesman for RSPB Scotland, insisted the sea eagles were unlikely to pose any threat to the populations of threatened birds such as short eared owls and puffins. "A sea eagle doesn't recognise the protection orders that are given to various other species," he said. "They are opportunistic predators. If they see an opportunity, they will exploit it.

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Who knew that predators would act like predators? This reminds me of the ridiculous complaints about Alaska allowing people to hunt wolves by using air planes. When I posted on this before some of the opponents of the program claimed it was not a fair fight. Who in thier right mind wants to be in a fair fight with a wolf? What the Sots are finding is that predators attack more desirable species.

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