A golden eagle has survived being shot, with 17 shotgun pellets which were detected in her body and wings during recuperation. According to Restoring Upland Nature (RUN - home to the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project) the four-year-old female bird named Squeagle, was translocated by the project from the Outer Hebrides in February 2026. She is flying again thanks to the combined efforts of the rescuing gamekeepers, the Scottish SPCA and RUN staff.

Police Wildlife Crime Officers in Northumberland, Durham, Cumbria and North Yorkshire, supported by the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit, have joined forces with Police Scotland for an appeal as evidence indicated Squeagle had flown across these areas around the time when the shooting incident happened (spring 2026).

This is the fourth time Police Wildlife Crime Officers have recovered evidence relating to the shooting of one of the golden eagles translocated by the project, but the first for a bird thought to have flown into England around the time of the incident.

Rachael Bice, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust CEO said; “We are outraged by the suffering inflicted on this majestic bird in our region and thank everyone involved in Squeagle’s rescue and recuperation. These injuries result from a shotgun in the hands of an individual or group with the intention of maiming and probably killing. Someone will know who the criminals are behind this dreadful crime and would ask anyone with information to come forward to the Police. We also call on all landowners to take their leadership responsibilities seriously, condemning barbaric and illegal acts like this which have no place in our wildest working landscapes, and assisting the Police to identifying the perpetrator/s.”