Man shot dead badgers and buzzards in ‘biggest cull of protected species’ ever seen by official

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The gamekeeper at a Scottish grouse-shooting estate illegally killed buzzards, goshawks, badgers, a peregrine falcon and an otter in what a wildlife official described as the “biggest cull of protected species” they had ever seen. Wilson pleaded guilty to shooting and killing two goshawks, three buzzards, three badgers and an otter between March 2016 and May 2017, according to the Southern Reporter The 60-year-old also pleaded guilty to nine charges, including the use illegal snares and possession of two bottles of carbofuran – one of the most lethal pesticides, known to be particularly poisonous to birds. In a report on the findings, David Anderson, conservation manager of the Forestry Commission Scotland, wrote: “In 40 years working in wildlife management I have never seen so many protected species dead in such a small area.” Wilson was the sole gamekeeper for the estate where he lived with his partner. Society, whatever you may think, takes a dim view on this.” Wilson, who will be sentenced next month, was also fined £400 last year and banned from keeping birds of prey for 10 years he admitted to failing to protect an eagle owl from suffering, The Times reported.