Sea eagle attacks threaten Scottish farm livelihoods

Scottish farmer Ricky Rennie faces potential eviction from his hill farm due to significant losses caused by sea eagle attacks, which have reportedly killed half of his lambs. Rennie, who manages Garvachy Farm in Argyll, claims that these predatory birds have decimated his flock and jeopardized his ability to meet the conditions of his tenancy agreement. The Scottish government acknowledges the issue and aims to balance conservation efforts with farming interests, but Rennie argues that the eagle population is out of control. He reported a loss of £24,000 in the last financial year, with at least 280 lambs slaughtered in the current year alone, leading him to consider diversifying his business. NatureScot is attempting to mitigate the problem with diversionary feeding techniques, but Rennie notes that these efforts have not been effective. The situation highlights the ongoing conflict between wildlife conservation and agricultural sustainability in Scotland.