Wildlife crime probe launched over disappearance of white-tailed eagle from Midlothian

A probe has been launched after a satellite-tagged white-tailed eagle disappeared south of Edinburgh.

The bird was four years old and had thrived for eight months in the vicinity of the Moorfoot hills in Midlothian before going missing.

Police said the eagle’s satellite tag stopped working in “suspicious” circumstances in early November, and officers have since launched a wildlife crime investigation.

The bird had been translocated as a chick from Scotland to the Isle of White as part of a licenced reintroduction programme.

A white tailed eagle in Midlothian has disappeared. Police Scotland Midlothian. Photo by Debbie Tucker

In March 2025, the bird flew back to Scotland and held a territory in the Moorfoot Hills, spending most of its time in the hills between Peebles and Heriot.

In early November, police said the eagle expanded its range and spent the majority of its time on the lower ground by Gladhouse Reservoir, but after four days, officers said its satellite tag “suddenly stopped working in circumstances that give rise to suspicion”.

A full search of the area where the tag last transmitted and the areas it had been frequenting has been carried out by Police Scotland Wildlife Crime officers and the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit and a bird ecology expert.

Neither the bird nor the satellite tag has been recovered.

“This is a huge iconic bird of prey that chose to fly hundreds of miles north and settle in the Moorfoot Hills,” Police Constable Ali Whitby, wildlife crime officer for the Lothian and Scottish Borders division, said.

“Being so big its presence was known to people working and living in the area and it thrived for eight months; the fact it has now gone missing in suspicious circumstances is extremely disappointing.

“I would urge anyone with any information that may assist to contact us.”

Police have urged anyone with information on the eagle’s disappearance to call 101, quoting reference number PS-20251215-1347.

Alternatively, individuals with information can contact Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.