A joint investigation has been launched into the suspected illegal culling of around 100 birds in Highland Perthshire after dozens of carcasses were found floating in a loch.
Police Scotland and Sepa are probing the grim discovery at Loch Freuchie after a dog walker spotted the dead birds, believed to be young ravens or crows, in the waterway near Amulree on Sunday.
Local councillors have demanded investigators find out how the birds died and why they were dumped in the loch.
Scottish Natural Heritage, which licenses the culling of crows and ravens in the area, reported the discovery to police after being alerted by The Courier.
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “‘Our enquiries are at an early stage and we are working closely with partner agencies to establish the full set of circumstances”.
Scottish environmental watchdog Sepa visited the loch this week to take water samples as pollution fears mount.
A spokesperson said: “Sepa has received complaints from members of the public reporting a number of dead birds in the River Quaich where it enters Loch Freuchie.
“Sepa officers are continuing to work with all relevant partners to investigate this matter and have attended the site to take water samples from the river and loch.”
Strathtay SNP councillor Grant Laing called the episode “manifestly unethical”.
He said: “I’m shocked to see this and I think it has to be investigated thoroughly by the police and Sepa and we need the full circumstances of this event brought into the public domain.
“How did they end up floating in a loch?
“Even if this was a legal culling of these birds it is manifestly unethical that their carcasses should then be dumped in a waterway where they can be viewed by members of the public and the distress this will cause them.”
Independent Highland Perthshire councillor, Xander McDade, said: “This is a very concerning incident and I hope the cause is discovered as a matter of urgency.
“I would urge anyone with any information to contact the police.”
The discovery of the dead birds was made less than five miles from Strathbraan where licences to shoot 300 ravens were suspended last year due to public anger over culling.
The find at Loch Freuchie is the latest in a string of incidents in Highland Perthshire in which birds have died or gone missing in suspected foul play.
In April two young golden eagles disappeared near a Highland Perthshire moor in what were described as “suspicious circumstances”.
