Two dead peregrines were found at the same location in Motherwell, near Glasgow, on two consecutive days in February. Tests revealed they had both been poisoned by strychnine. Strychnine is a banned pesticide, outlawed in the UK since September 2006 by the EU’s Biocide Directive, which states that it can no longer be sold or stored in the UK. Strychnine causes muscle spasms and violent seizures, acute pain and respiratory difficulties before death.
The first dead body was found at the foot of the high-rise block of flats called Coursington Tower, Motherwell, on February 15 2011. The second body was found in the same place the following day. This location is just a few metres away from a primary school and it is fortunate that the bodies were not picked up or handled by passing school children. Strychnine poisoning can be fatal in humans after absorption, inhalation or swallowing.
Interesting to note that the location where the bodies were found is also within a couple of miles of a racing pigeon club. Although the racing pigeon community does not have such a bad record as the gamekeeping community for raptor persecution, they do have a track record and peregrines are one of their well-publicised targets for hatred.
Well done to the SSPCA for taking the lead on this investigation. Anyone with information about this incident should call in confidence to the SSPCA helpline: 03000 999 999.
News story here: http://news.stv.tv/scotland/west-central/235697-falcons-poisoned-in-motherwell-with-banned-pesticide/
Raptor Persecution UK 
Yes…the exception that proves the rule…however, dont let the pigeon fancy off too lightly. There is a hard core of pigeon fanciers in Scotland [and across Europe] who are well capable of this kind of killing. Huge amounts of public money have been wasted on trying to determine the level of predation on racing pigeons.
As with grouse shooting, this activity developed in a time when predators could be [and were] killed with impunity. Now protection is expected, there are howls of protest about how raptors are ruining their sport.
Having said the above…we have no idea who killed these urban based birds.
Strychnine…which causes perhaps the most horrible of poisoning deaths…has not been easy to get hold of for a long time now, even before it was banned…but it only takes a pinch to kill a couple of peregrines. Where did someone get hold of it?….Mole controller is the most likely.
Words fail me…
So what we are looking for is a Mole controller,Pigeon Fancier who lives in Motherwell. Should not be to hard for the police to catch him then. They were very lucky the school kids did not pick up the birds, they could have been up on a murder charge.
Because of the danger to human life this certainly would rate a “culpable and reckless conduct” charge which can carry very high penalties.
Should always be used when such lethal poison baits are left out in the open…
Of course all these decades of complaint by conservationists, birders and other concerned members of the public….will be overwhelmed when a child gets killed by such ignorant and reckless use of deadly poisons. There will be an almighty outcry, saying, “why was nothing done?” Thats the way of the world – its certainly the way of politicians.