Police launch probe after dismembered golden eagle was dumped in bag on Scots forestry track

Police in Stirling have launched an investigation after a large bird of prey was found dead inside a bag with body parts missing on a forestry track near Port of Menteith during the summer.

Officers are probing the incident after a golden eagle was discovered on a forestry track off the A81, ear to Loch Rusky, north east of Port of Menteith.

The bird was discovered at around 11am on Tuesday, July 30, and was wrapped in a plastic bag and body parts had been removed.

Enquiries have been ongoing and now officers are appealing for help to find out how it came to be there.

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Golden eagles are the top predators in the Scottish countryside. They mainly hunt rabbits and mountain hares but will also catch foxes, young deer and large birds like grouse.

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They can regularly be seen in the skies in upland areas and remote glens.

Golden eagles have large home territories, nesting on rocky cliff faces and in trees where it builds a giant nest or ‘eyrie’.

They can grow to have a wing-span of more than two meters and have an average life expectancy of around 23 years.

Golden eagles are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 1166 of July 7 or make a call anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.