A golden eagle found with multiple shotgun pellet injuries has been returned to the wild as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding its shooting. The female eagle, approximately four years old and known as Squeagle, was initially released earlier this year in the Lammermuir Hills of the Scottish Borders as part of a conservation effort aimed at increasing golden eagle populations in southern Scotland.

Equipped with a tracking tag, Squeagle’s movements took her across northern England, including Northumberland, the Pennines, and the Yorkshire Dales. A photograph captured in Northumberland on May 1 showed visible damage to her feathers. Subsequently, gamekeepers observed signs that the bird was in distress and notified Restoring Upland Nature, the conservation organization managing the project.

On June 1, the eagle was retrieved and taken into the care of the Scottish SPCA, where veterinary examinations and scans revealed at least 17 shotgun pellets lodged in her body and wings. Specialists assessed that the injuries were not recent, noting that the wounds had begun to heal.

Detective Sergeant David Lynn, Scotland’s national wildlife crime coordinator, characterized the incident as “a serious attack on a protected bird of prey.” Police are actively investigating to determine the exact location and timing of the shooting.

The case highlights ongoing concerns about the illegal persecution of birds of prey in the region. Conservationists stress that such attacks not only cause significant suffering to individual animals but also undermine efforts to restore vulnerable species populations across the UK. Authorities continue to appeal for any information that could assist in identifying those responsible for the shooting.