Farmer 'heartbroken' amid claims sea eagles stealing Shetland pony foals from South Uist farm

A farmer has said he is “heartbroken” after claiming that sea eagles are behind the mysterious disappearance of Shetland pony foals from his hillside croft in the Outer Hebrides.

Donald John Cameron, who runs Long Island Retreats in South Uist, said that five of the herd disappeared on separate occasions between May and July this summer.

He believes that white-tailed eagles are taking the ponies, which are known to attack livestock and fly away with animals up to the size of lambs.

The 53-year-old said his foals could weigh about 10kg, the equivalent of a four or five-week-old lamb.

‘They’re my pets’

Donald said he has kept a herd of ponies for over 60 years as part of his agritourism business, which he runs with his partner.

He told STV News that due to the frequency of the disappearances, he believes it has to be coming from a predator in the area.

“We don’t have ground predators like pine martens, foxes, etc. The only predators we have are white-tailed eagles”, he explained.

Donald said his four-year-old daughter is not getting the chance to name the foals before they are being snatched. Donald John Cameron via Supplied

“If I lost a foal and a mare left it, that can happen. If an animal loses a follower, it will stay with it for a day or two, sometimes three or even longer, which usually leads you to find its corpse.

“This has not been the case. And it hasn’t been a one-off. To have lost five, there’s something more to it than that.”

He said the situation is having a huge impact on his family – including his four-year-old daughter – and livelihood, describing the foals as “pets”.

“These birds are having a huge impact on people’s livelihoods”, he said. “I have nothing against these birds, but I find it heartbreaking, really. I’m more attached to these ponies than I am to the sheep or the cattle.

“I have a four-and-a-half-year-old daughter. To me, these animals are like cats and dogs. They’re like my pets. It’s hard to explain to a four-year-old what is happening. She names them all, and now she’s not getting the chance to.

“They also contribute to my business. You advertise that you have foals, and then the foals aren’t there.”

‘No evidence’

White-tailed eagles were reintroduced to Scotland in 1975 and 1985, using birds from Norway, with further releases in the 2000s.

They previously became extinct due to human persecution in the early 1900s.

Scotland’s nature agency, NatureScot, said there was “no direct evidence” that the birds were responsible for the ponies’ disappearance.

However, they confirmed they would be “analysing prey remains from sea eagle nests” on the island.

A spokesperson said: “A local resident recently contacted us about missing Shetland pony foals and concerns that they may have been predated by sea eagles. While there is currently no direct evidence to support this view, we will be analysing prey remains from sea eagle nests across North and South Uist this year to help inform our wider work with farmers and crofters on the issue of predation. This will include visits to nest sites near the person’s holding.

“We provided advice on issues of lamb predation reported by this individual at a site visit in 2023, including a wide range of support options available through the Sea Eagle Management Scheme.

“Some of these options may be helpful in protecting both sheep and ponies. We have not received an application to the scheme from this person, but we would welcome discussing this further with them.”

Donald described the foals as 'family pets'. — Donald described the foals as ‘family pets’. Donald John Cameron via Supplied

Donald has described NatureScot’s comments as “loose” and has called on the organisation to establish where the eagles’ feeding areas are.

He said: “NatureScot have been loose with their comments.

“There was an expert on the radio saying that the white-tailed eagle weighs around 5 kilos and can lift twice its own weight. There is plenty of evidence that white-tailed eagles take calves and lambs.

“With white-tailed eagles, the female is the larger of the pair, weighing 7.5 to 8 kilos.

“These birds are so in touch with our movements. They are plentiful.

“Nest inspections only account for the birds that are breeding. NatureScot needs to establish how many birds we actually have and where their feeding areas are.

“They reintroduced them, so it’s their responsibility.”