A Government scheme to reintroduce golden eagles to England has sparked a bitter row between conservationists and farmers.
The £1million project aims to return the birds of prey - with wingspans of up to eight feet - to English skies after more than a century of absence.
But sheep farmers have sounded the alarm, warning ministers are pushing ahead without properly considering the impact on their flocks.
The National Sheep Association has accused officials of rushing the plans, putting livestock and rural livelihoods at risk.
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Forestry England has identified eight potential release sites, mostly in the north, with young eagles expected to be released as early as next year.
Farmers say their concerns are being ignored as conservationists champion rewilding efforts.
The impact of eagle predation has been highlighted by Richard Rennie, a 39-year-old farmer in Argyll whose family has worked a 2,500-acre holding since 1939.
In 2024 alone, white-tailed eagles killed 300 of his sheep, costing him more than £30,000.
The £1million project aims to return the birds of prey to English skies after more than a century of absence
|GETTY
“They go in through the neck or the ribs and take all the soft organs out... it's just brutal,” he told The Telegraph.
The attacks have become increasingly bold, with the protected birds now targeting full-grown sheep and even his working dog.
Mr Rennie said he has tried every deterrent available, including inflatable scarecrows, helium balloons and specialist lambing jackets - all without success.
“It's putting us out of business,” he said, warning he may soon be forced off the land.
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The protected birds have begun attacking Mr Rennie's fully-grown sheep
| PAPhil Stocker, chief executive of the National Sheep Association, said the plans risk being rushed without a proper understanding of the consequences.
“The amount of pressure on farmers knowing there is a predator out there attacking your livestock is immense,” he told the newspaper.
Mr Stocker said some farmers now feel unable to leave their homes, fearing attacks on their animals.
“These sudden introductions before we've really learned what the impact could be create too much risk,” he warned.
Defra insisted 'any economic impact on sheep farmers is expected to be minimal'
| PAThe chief executive added: “The concerns of farmers are being ignored and shouted down by a vocal contingent on social media."
A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesman said: “We’re backing sheep farmers and want a productive, profitable and sustainable future for farming that will go hand in hand with restoring our most threatened native wildlife.
“We will work alongside farmers and communities to find the best ways to support golden-eagle recovery and any economic impact on sheep farmers is expected to be minimal.
“More widely, we have allocated a record £11.8billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament, and our recent changes to the sustainable farming incentive are designed to ensure as many farmers as possible, including upland and sheep farmers, can benefit from this investment.”
However, farmers remain unconvinced, calling for compensation schemes and dedicated wardens to monitor eagle populations.
Mr Rennie offered a blunt verdict on the plans: “They don't have a clue, they're not from the countryside.
"They're just jobsworths from the cities who think they know best.”
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