An injured buzzard was found on Ryton flood bank in North Yorkshire last week.
The bird was still alive but unable to fly – its broken humerus was sticking through the skin (see the x-ray below) and the wound site was infected.
Unfortunately the bird had to be euthanised.
If anyone has any information about this crime please contact Police Wildlife Crime Officer Jez Walmsley at Malton Police Station (Tel: 101) or the RSPB’s Raptor Crime Hotline (Tel: 0300 999 0101).
[Photos via Jean Thorpe]
Raptor Persecution UK 
Why do we have such idiots around?
Disgusted.
Doug
I know anyone experienced with raptor crime is already aware of this, but I feel it’s necessary to make it clear how the examples of shot raptors found is only the tip of a very large iceberg. Most of the time when raptors are shot, they come down like a game bird, and those shooting them just bury them to hide the evidence. It is a mistake when one of these birds gets away to be found. In other words, many, many more raptors are killed for each dead one found.
At the level this happens, the disappearance of satellite tagged birds etc, it can confidently be said that this is not just the work of one or two bad apples. This is a very widespread thing. The shooting industry organizations are being very disingenuous and dishonest when they pretend this is just a few bad apples and the problem is decreasing. The problem isn’t decreasing, it’s just that those perpetrating raptor crime and just getting better at avoiding detection, and learning from previous mistakes when incidents got detected. Satellite tagged raptors are a tiny proportion of the overall population of these birds. The frequency and proportion of these satellite tagged birds which are obviously being killed, suggests that raptor killing/persecution is at a very high level over wide areas of the country. Those heading the shooting organizations are not stupid. Even if they don’t have any personal knowledge of raptor persecution, and I doubt it, because it must be a widely discussed topic in private in the shooting world, they know very well this is a widespread thing and not just a few bad apples as they claim. The fact that they deny the scale of the problem, says that they cannot be trusted. At the very least they are turning a knowing blind eye, and there is the distinct possibility that “some” of these shooting industry figures not only know the truth, but in reality agree with raptor persecution.
After all, there is no evidence of the shooting industry self-regulating, and attempting to curb something which is seriously damaging their image. They seem to have an omerta code of silence, and do nothing to hand over those responsible to the authorities. This lack of an attempt to clamp down on it suggests a fair degree of tacit approval of what is happening.
Exactly as I have thought for years. A secret society of wrong doings and clever lawyers to wriggle out of justice.
Doug
If they handed in the people doing this then shooting would end because there would be very few gamekeepers left, and especially those associated with driven grouse shooting
Sadly I have to agree with your conclusions steb1.
I wonder what sort of government would be prepared to tackle this issue head on?
The recent knife crime escalation has led to a national emergency.
I wonder why the persecution of our natural heritage doesn’t lead to the same?
Not surprised by this incident at all. The breeding season will soon be on us for birds of prey and the gamekeepers and estate staff will be monitoring known raptor territories to take out as many birds as possible before nesting and breeding can begin. I am sure that one dead buzzard will be just the tip of an appalling iceberg this spring.
If UK judges regarded wildlife and animal crime as serious there might be less of it,
maybe its time to lobby those politicians to get the law changed NOW…..
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I think that a substantial part of the problem lies with politicians who, for reasons we can only guess at, support or ar not prepared to oppose the actions of criminals.
As the comment above states the law and the judiciary are very weak as regards animal crimem and consequently these ‘toerags’ get away with it.
They unfortunately get away with it because it is very rare for there to be witnesses and despite how we all feel about such crime the law must apply with all the usual evidence and processes required. There is no known culprit for the police to arrest and to be taken to court. A high detection rate is required for there to be any deterrent effect at all and that is just not possible in such cases. Don’t get me wrong Like everyone else I despair about this but the processes of law are there to protect us all even the scumbags.
Yes we need some changes to the law and certainly an increase in penalties for wildlife crime but by its very nature shooting is a difficult crime to pursue. Not only that but it is my “home” county AGAIN, despite having moved to Powys a year ago that is how I feel both angry and ashamed. We cannot let these criminals win!
For as long as there are grouse moors and shooting estates there will always be Raptor Persecution , Our birds of prey will always be in trouble , There should be no excuses , if a bird disappears over an estate the license should be removed , no second chances , we have to apply the pressure to our MPs, I am on the fells every day with work and walk them on a weekend , its so depressing to think what I could be seeing , but in reality its just grouse and an odd plover , makes me sick to the stomach.
These lovely birds have a right to respect and life just as humans do. This senselesss killing must stop now.