A man’s been cautioned after officers from Staffordshire Police’s Rural and Wildlife Team were notified of a Larsen trap with live pigeons used as decoy birds in an area of Newcastle-under-Lyme. The 60-year-old from Newcastle was handed a conditional caution after officers caught the trap being deployed and pigeons inside. The conditions of his caution […]

A kestrel was shot and killed in Leeds ‘last week’ (15-21st March 2021), police said. West Yorkshire Police’s Wildlife & Rural Crime team said the Kestrel was discovered at the junction of Leeds Road and Park Lane in Allerton Bywater. The force has now launched an appeal for information. Anyone who can help police should […]

Northumbria Police have put out an appeal for information as a female satellite tagged hen harrier goes missing.  The appeal was put out on Twitter on 12th March 2021 (@NPNland) stating that a satellite tag fitted to a female hen harrier had last transmitted on February 24 to the south of Halthwhistle. The police ask […]

Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group – Chairperson Required An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Chief Inspector or Superintendent to take up the Chair of the Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group (RPPDG) immediately. Raptor persecution is one of seven national UK Wildlife Crime priorities, identified through the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) Strategic Assessment. Each […]

  The shot Red Kite was found near Salperton, a village located about eight miles east of Cheltenham on March 12 2021. Gloucestershire Police’s rural crime team found the bird and have released X-ray photos. The rural crime team said on Twitter: “Red Kite shot 12/03, Salperton Village. Believed to be shot close to village. […]

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority have expressed dismay and shock after footage released showed two buzzards being lured to their deaths on a North Yorkshire grouse moor. The footage, released by the RSPB investigations team, showed a large eagle owl being used to draw in buzzards. A man nearby, who had tethered the owl […]

Police are set to investigate the death of two peregrine falcons which nested at the iconic Samson and Goliath cranes in Belfast. It is believed the birds, which are protected by law, were poisoned. They were found lying close together under the cranes at the weekend and have been removed for post mortem examination. The birds […]

RSPCA launch investigation following ‘horrific’ illegal shooting in Bedfordshire left buzzard being put down. A wild buzzard needed to be put down after it was illegally shot in Henlow, Bedfordshire. The RSPCA is investigating after an x-ray revealed the buzzard has been shot in the wing with an air rifle. The bird was rescued on […]

Police are appealing for information after a buzzard was found dead in Horseheath. A member of the public found the bird of prey in a wooded area while on a walk on 29 January 2021. Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s Rural Crime Action Team (RCAT) are now working with the RSPB to find those responsible after it was […]

A number of guns and pesticides have been seized by police as officers investigate the suspected deliberate poisoning of a bird of prey. Suffolk police’s rural crime team launched an investigation following the discovery of a dead common buzzard on land in west Suffolk back in September. Officers then carried out searches and seized several […]