A bird of prey died in Middle Franconia after eating poisoned bait. A toxicological investigation revealed that a red kite found dead in Gerolfingen (Ansbach district) was poisoned with the active ingredient pentobarbital, the government of Middle Franconia announced on Wednesday. The substance is used in human medicine as a sleeping pill and in veterinary medicine as a lulling agent. Unknown people had apparently deliberately laid out bait to kill birds of prey.
Numerous birds of prey were killed last year – albeit with the insecticide carbofuran, which has been banned in the EU since 2007. It is frightening that strictly protected species such as peregrine falcons, hawks, red kites, buzzards, but also owls, storks, herons and ravens are being killed illegally, said Markus Bachmann, chairman of the Ansbach district group of the State Association for Bird Protection (LBV). The group hopes for witnesses.