New powers to shoot ravens after livestock attacks on Orkney

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Scotland’s natural heritage agency is working on new measures to address the issue of raven attacks on livestock in Orkney. Farmers have reported incidents where young ravens have caused harm to lambs, sheep, and calves, leading to significant financial losses. NatureScot officials acknowledged the ineffectiveness of current controls in deterring these attacks during a meeting with concerned farmers in the islands.

Existing licenses to shoot ravens in Orkney are only issued as a last resort, with a focus on targeting juvenile birds as they are not typically associated with livestock attacks. However, farmers expressed dissatisfaction with the current licensing regime, citing limitations on shooting permissions to specific fields as ineffective in preventing further damage. NatureScot is considering revising these terms to allow for a more flexible approach to managing raven populations in Orkney.

At the meeting, farmers highlighted the devastating impact of raven attacks on their livestock, with reports of lambs, sheep, and young calves suffering injuries. NatureScot’s commitment to addressing the issue was met with cautious optimism by farmer Douglas Paterson, who emphasized the need for effective action to be taken. Similar challenges with young ravens have been observed in other parts of Scotland and the UK, prompting calls for more tailored control measures to be implemented in affected areas like Orkney.

While some experts call for more data on the necessity of controlling raven numbers, others argue for immediate action to address the existing problem. Shooter Robert Reid believes a more flexible licensing scheme that covers a wider geographic area could improve the effectiveness of raven control measures. NatureScot has committed to holding similar meetings in other regions, like Shetland, where farmers are also facing challenges with raven attacks on their livestock

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