REPORTS that a number of golden eagle deaths on the island of Rum may have been caused by reintroduced sea eagles have been disputed by Scottish National Heritage.

It is understood that a golden eagle was found dead on Rum during the winter of 2015/16, with no obvious sign of how its death had come about. It was sent for autopsy, and the results indicated that it had been killed by a large predator. A second golden eagle fatality was found later that same winter, although it was not autopsied.

Locals have since concluded that, as there is only one larger predator species than the golden eagle on the island – the sea eagle – that it must have been responsible for the golden eagle losses.

Rum is one of the locations sea eagle re-introduction began, and critics of the scheme have described the island as being at 'saturation level' with the species.

Asked to comment, an SNH spokesperson suggested that the wrong conclusion may have been reached: “We believe the golden eagle’s death on Rum in this case is the result of two golden eagles competing for territory – which is normal behaviour.

"It is possible that a sea eagle was responsible, but based on what we know, in this instance we believe a golden eagle was to blame."