Published • loading... • Updated
Golden eagle released in conservation project shot with 17 pellets
Scans found at least 17 shotgun pellets in the protected bird, and police are working with partners across Scotland and northern England.
- On June 6, 2026, a four-year-old golden eagle named Squeagle was released back into the wild after receiving specialist treatment for gunshot injuries. Police Scotland is investigating the attack, which left the protected raptor with at least 17 shotgun pellets in her body.
- Restoring Upland Nature moved Squeagle from the Outer Hebrides to the Lammermuir Hills in February 2026 as part of a translocation project. The golden eagle is a "rare bird of the mountains and moorlands of Scotland" and is strictly protected under law.
- After her release, Squeagle traveled through northern England, including Northumberland, the Pennines, and the Yorkshire Dales. Gamekeepers on an estate in the Lammermuirs noticed the bird behaving unusually on June 1, discovering "significant" damage to her wing feathers.
- Veterinary specialists at the Scottish SPCA's National Wildlife Rescue Centre at Fishcross nursed the raptor back to health. Squeagle now continues to be monitored through observations and satellite tracking following her return to the wild.
- Detective Sergeant David Lynn of the National Wildlife Crime Unit is working with partners across Scotland and northern England to establish who was responsible. Golden eagles have been "heavily persecuted" for decades, though Squeagle is now under close observation.
Insights by Ground AI
17 Articles
17 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources17
Leaning Left4Leaning Right0Center9Last UpdatedBias Distribution69% Center
Bias Distribution
- 69% of the sources are Center
69% Center
L 31%
C 69%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
