New figures reveal that certain crimes against wildlife rocketed last year.
Poaching of deer, hares and fish all recorded substantial rises last year, with the incidence of deer offences soaring by 47 per cent in Scotland.
The percentage reflects the officially-logged number of poaching incidents in which deer were illegally taken and comes from the National Wildlife Crime Unit.
Deer poaching was up from 71 incidents reported in 2008 to 105 in 2009 (up 47 per cent), while reported incidents of hare coursing across Scotland for 2009 totalled 148, an increase of 120 per cent on the 67 reported incidents in 2008. Fish poaching was up from 43 incidents in 2008 to 75 in 2009 (up 75 per cent).
The figures come as a fresh initiative to tackle the problem was launched last week by Scottish Community Safety Minister Fergus Ewing MSP.
The launch was on behalf of the Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime Scotland (PAWCS), the alliance of agencies and organisations charged by the Scottish Government to tackle this type of criminal activity.
The campaign includes a new
poster and leaflet, to encourage
the public to report incidents or suspicion of poaching, and in particular deer poaching, hare coursing and salmon poaching, through Crimestoppers or their local police, and to raise public awareness of the scale of the problem.
PAWCS spokesman Douglas McAdam said the increase in deer poaching could be due to the credit crunch, as well as more reporting of incidents because of heightened awareness among those working in the countryside or enjoying it for recreation.
"These are crimes being committed in our countryside, the illegal taking
or killing of wildlife, and we all
can help to provide intelligence, to report suspicious activity, and to
give the police the information they need to catch and prosecute the perpetrators who increasingly are members of organised gangs often involved in other criminal activity," he added.
Some experts believe deer poaching cases have increased because the recent severe winter weather has forced the animals to seek shelter on lower ground closer to roads where they are more visible against the white background of snow and therefore an easier target.
But Lothian and Borders Police wildlife liaison officer Rory Hamilton says he has an open mind on what has triggered the increase.
And he added: "We have a number of operations running to target poaching in areas such as the Borders. This is a problem that affects the whole of Scotland."
PC Hamilton says the wintry conditions may or may not be making poaching easier, but can actually aid police investigations into possible poaching incidents.
"Snow can make detection of crimes easier because some things show up easier, like footprints, making it better for forensics officers."
PC Hamilton urged people in the Borders to report anything suspicious they see in the countryside to their local police or to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.