Bird of prey murder in Bavaria: 14 poisoned animals in just 6 months!

Bird of prey murder in Bavaria: 14 poisoned animals in just 6 months!

The number of poisoned birds of prey has increased alarmingly in Bavaria. In the first half of 2025, 14 cases have already been documented, which is more than in the entire previous year, when 13 birds and one pigeon lost their lives to similar atrocities. As the Passauer Neue Presse reported, there are also four outstanding toxicological findings that still need to be evaluated. Common buzzards, which are considered the most common domestic birds of prey, are particularly affected.

The problem extends throughout Bavaria, with hotspots such as the districts of Neustadt an der Aisch-Bad Windsheim, Regensburg and Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm. The situation is so precarious that conservationists assume there are two groups of perpetrators: on the one hand, hunters who feel disadvantaged by the birds of prey in their area, and on the other hand, poultry or pigeon breeders who want to avenge their losses. As the Bavarian Radio explains, kamikaze pigeons are used as live poison bait to effectively destroy the birds of prey.

Poisonings in the Regensburg district

Several birds of prey were recently found poisoned in the Regensburg district. An eagle owl, a red kite and a peregrine falcon have fallen victim to these heinous acts, all of which are under strict protection. The toxins bendiocarb and carbofuran, the latter a neurotoxin banned in the EU since 2008, were the triggers for the animals' deaths. The toxicological studies were carried out by the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. The South German newspaper According to the State Association for Bird and Nature Conservation (LBV), it has already filed a criminal complaint because there is a connection between the crimes due to the proximity of the finds.

However, the number of unreported cases is high. It is believed that not all poisonings are discovered and many cases remain hidden. Andreas von Lindeiner heads the “Tatort Natur” project, which aims to systematically document such crimes. The request is clear: education in the spirit of nature conservation, because the help of the population is of great importance for education.

The legal perspectives

Unfortunately, the legal situation often remains opaque for those responsible. Despite 67 criminal complaints in recent years for the illegal persecution of birds of prey, there have been no convictions or charges. This often happens due to a lack of sufficient reliable evidence, which makes investigations more difficult. In the last year, the affected regions have developed into a veritable “hotspot for nature conservation crime”.

As the reports make clear, there is a massive challenge in solving these crimes. Against the background of increasing awareness of nature and animal protection, nature protection regulations urgently need to be strengthened in order to prevent cruelty against our feathered friends.