Yet another bird of prey has been found shot in the North York Moors National Park and is currently ‘fighting for its life’.
North Yorkshire Police (Ryedale) issued the following statement on Facebook at the weekend:
‘We are again appealing for witnesses after this poor buzzard was found fighting for it’s life at the top of Daleside Road in Rosedale. X-rays revealed that it had been shot, but fortunately it survived the trauma and is currently receiving intensive veterinary care.
PC Jez Walmsley of the Helmsley and Kirkbymoorside safer neighbourhood team stated “This is the third buzzard in the last four months that has been shot or died in suspicious circumstances in the Rosedale area”. I would appeal to anyone who has any information about who is persecuting these magnificent birds to come forward. Please email me Jeremy.Walmsley@northyorkshire.police.co.uk’
I’m not sure about this being ‘the third shot buzzard in the last four months’ – if that’s the case then it’s in addition to two shot red kites found in the area in June 2023 (see here and here). I haven’t seen any media about two shot buzzards found in the last four months so I suspect PC Walmsley may be confusing the two shot red kites for buzzards. If that’s not the case, then five shot birds of prey have been found in this grouse moor-dominated area of the North York Moors National Park.
Either way, it’s clear that this so-called National Park, like so many others in the UK, is still not a safe haven for birds of prey.
UPDATE 11 October 2023: Buzzard shot in North York Moors National Park didn’t survive its injuries (here)
Raptor Persecution UK 
No raptor will be safe anywhere in the UK until this pathetic government, or whoever possibly replaces them, put in place far stronger measures to try to stop such happening with far heavier penalties, fines and prison sentences.
Something must be done to try and deter others from such heinous crimes.
And grouse moor owners should be prosecuted as they are the custodians of that land, supposedly, regardless of whomever may have committed the crime there.
And Defra need to step up and start doing what they claim they are actually doing; which at present, in my opinion, they are far from accomplishing. Wildlife and the environment are not being protected properly
I completely agree. There are far too many of these instances and no one in government is doing anything about it. Do we know if this poor buzzard pulled through?
I totally agree, this government is totally out touch with it’s lenient sentences not only to wildlife crime but all crime. Its time for a change, criminals of all types are getting away with a slap on the wrist instead of an appropriate sentence. Thus criminals laugh at the judicial response and feel free to do whatever they want, knowing that it won’t cost them any retribution. This has got to stop.
“this government is totally out touch with it’s lenient sentences not only to wildlife crime but all crime… This has got to stop.”
Have you, then, submitted any Unduly Lenient Sentence applications?
If not, why not?
https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/unduly-lenient-sentences#:~:text=The%20Unduly%20Lenient%20Sentence%20(ULS,the%20sentence%20is%20too%20lenient.
https://www.gov.uk/ask-crown-court-sentence-review
Here raptors have to hunt ive 2 Harris Hawks and i fly them if they get a bit off quarry thats thefe dinner ,, i can only send a prayer that this Buzzard survives and who ever done this awful and dreadful act jail them how would they feel if for talk sake it was one off their family fighting for their life!!!!??
I would deter the morons from shooting our beautiful raptors. Shut down the grouse moors. Hit the land owners, who employ these idiots hard in the pocket.
Probably shot by a farmer. Way to many kites and buzzards around.
Why don’t you all donate some money and rent a moorland, do something positive for a change 🤣
[Ed: comment deleted – abusive]
You realise. of course, that you are simply adding to the very negative stereotype that the general population now view the pro-shooting lobby? Now if you offered an argument as to WHY there are too many buzzards around you might start a stimulating debate and convert some to your view. Hiwever, your view as it stands, is without substance as are most of that nature.
I’d rather there be too many buzzards, than too many people like you making statements like that and thinking it’s funny. I’m sure buzzards are far more intelligent too …
” too many people like you making statements like that…”
You have addressed that comment to George. Why?
These birds of prey need protecting from ignorant people who do not care about wildlife. These birds were hear before humans were. They are part of the echo system they don’t kill indiscriminately but to live it’s people like these that make my blood boil .it’s these people that should wake up to reality. And realise that these birds all birds not just birds of prey should be looked after. Like bees butterflies all dieing out. We are to blame not the wildife but humans we are custodians of this planet. We have brains these people are sick cruel,. They have a duty of care to this planet that means protecting it and all that within it. This is God’s cammandment in his word. People like those who say we have to many birds of prey. They talk total rubbish and these people should be put in, prison. Colin
Judging by the number of gamekeepers with criminal convictions, I think the public know where the blame lies.
Don’t be a fool or worse and give the criminals excuses, because there are none, there cannot be too many predators, it’s an ecological impossibility whatever is claimed the amount of prey oor carrion determines the number of consumers NOT the other way round. Why would it be a farmer no birds of prey are a problem to them at all far more likely to be somebody associated with game shooting. As to the rest of your comment it is rife with ignorance and prejudice, as practical and supporters of conservation most folk on here will have done far more for conservation than ANY in the shooting cabal.
Your piss-poor attempt at a wind-up aside, many people here have gone further than that, and actually donated toward the purchase of Moorland. Which will result in a healthy, functioning ecosystem, as opposed to a degraded landscape which exists simply for the entertainment of those who lack the intellect to do anything worthwhile with their lives.
Most people who take the time to comment on here are trying to do something positive, unfortunately your intelligence has failed to realise that.
That’s exactly what they did in Langholm. The community raised £6m and bought 10,500 acres of a former grouse moor and is now transforming it into a nature reserve. So, yes, mate, people are doing positive things for nature all over the country. Grouse shooting days are numbered. Can’t come too soon
Clown …
Numptie
How many is too many?
The problem is, anything to be debated by parliament has to be approved by the privy council. The privy council sits with the King who has the final say. So if the King doesn’t like it , it doesn’t reach parliament. So there’s nothing more to say is there. We’re led to believe we live in a democratic society.
Ironically, although not this exact area, the King owns large parts of the NY Moors which are currently used for DGS. Part of which has recent history of [Ed: alleged] raptor persecution.
Sorry, but that is rubbish. If what you say was the case we would still be hunting because the then Prince of Wales and his wife rode to hounds all the time. Parliament is totally independent of the crown even if royal opinion is sometimes sought it does not mean it will be acted upon.
If you follow the hunt sabs you’ll see that that hunting hasn’t stopped at all.
“Sorry, but that is rubbish. If what you say was the case…”
You have addressed that comment to the report on the wounded Buzzard…
No. I pressed the wrong button. It was addressed in response to the comment claiming the King had the final say over the privy council..
Thanks for the clarification.
As an exercise in being able, if sufficiently investigated, to locate the perpetrators of thos crime their needs to be a massive effort to get to the bottom and prosecute. It’s because they know its unlikely that they will ever be bought to justice they do it .
This is happening daily we only get to hear about the odd case .
And so the number of raptor persecution incidents in the National parks increases yet again.
Isn’t it time there was a complete change of strategy to reduce these criminal incidents?
The National Parks are supposed to be an environment where wildlife and nature is protected.
There are already restrictions on many things in National Parks which affect how people living in the Parks go about their business.
If a change in strategy means a complete suspension of all game bird shooting within National Parks then so be it.
Landowners could still receive stewardship payments in order to carry out conservation work and maintain important habitats for flora and fauna, but there would be no commercial shooting, and no incentive for criminals to repress raptor populations.
If organisations like the Countryside Alliance, Moorland Association, NGA or BASC are opposed to such an idea, then help stop this criminal behaviour, because the cause of this relentless illegal persecution is not rocket science to understand.
I sent a email yesterday to head of national parks North York Moors I got this information on my phone last night it’s disgusting and it’s Rosedale and Westerdale where the biggest persecution is happening, the red kites in June and now this poor bird .
Bransdale is another place 5 dead buzzards were found there this year.This is all on my doorstep, I was over there last week it’s an impossible task to get evidence it’s so vast. My friend rented a cottage at Kildale which is very close to these moors and she rescued 2 cats and was told in no uncertain terms they would be killed if she let them out in case they got any grouse obviously she moved out . These people are xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx and like you all say until the government do something it’s never going to change and the present government are old boys club not in touch with the real world. Again unbelievable!
Why are these xxxxx allowed to legally own guns, I live in a really rough council estate it’s like Detroit here I need this to protect myself but apparently they are illegal. How do these clowns get them?
I’ve informed league against cruel sports as they are looking into hunting and cruelty in the National Parks and they’ve responded so another avenue to help these birds .
League against cruel sports are very interested in this story of the buzzard as they are wanting hunting and cruelty to stop on nation parks land. I’ve forwarded the footage on to them and hopefully it will open other avenues of help for these poor birds and any wildlife persecuted.
Your right it’s not the third buzzard the others were 2? 3 Red Kites in June ?
I’ve sent letters to DEFRA/ all the newspapers/ national parks/ rural police officer. I’ve had response from national parks and police but not DEFRA or environmental secretary.
It’s a massive task to bring offenders to justice and like previously said these people know this and will keep doing it .
There is another aspect to this story.
If the police officer quoted in the press release has got the facts wrong about the number of raptor persecution incidents committed, then what does that say about how the police approach these crimes?
Surely, one would expect the police to have accurate data on just how many raptor persecution crimes are being committed, where and when these crimes are are occurring, and the precise details of the modus operandi?
I understand that at present there is no national recording of raptor persecution crimes by the Home Office.
Perhaps it is time that there was, so that police forces are required to submit accurate data on wildlife crimes, so that they can be held accountable for the success or failure of investigations and prosecution rates. This might also flag up national best practice, especially if one particular police forces is having greater success at bringing the criminals to justice.
It is worth remembering that Raptor persecution is a national wildlife crime priority, and the police have a duty to properly investigate these crimes, as well as a duty to take reasonable steps to try and prevent these crimes from happening in the first place.
I also believe that since so many raptor persecution crimes are occurring within the National Parks, then it seems fairly obvious that current government policy is failing to protect raptors. So in my opinion, it is also time that the Minister in charge of rural affairs was held to account before parliament as to why this situation is being allowed to persist. (I am not going hold my breath on this as it seems politicians are rarely held accountable for their poor performance. But it is something I hope someone in parliament questions the government on.)
Hopefully Labour Party when in Government will put an end to driven grouse shooting and increase penalties for these crimes
A party which announces it intends to remove planning regulations when in power, in order to concrete over yet more precious habitat, is hardly likely to disturb the status quo of the Establishment in favour of raptors and the environment.
And you believe that is their priority? Come out from under your mushroom. None of the main parties truly give a damn about wildlife at all
Well, this is the time of year for young buzzards spreading out from their low-persecution natal areas up into the grouse moors. An inviting prospect full of voles and rabbits and rabbit-roadkill for them. But if they don’t learn fast that it is unwise to remain sitting on telegraph poles and fenceposts on the remote back roads, while vehicles drive slowly past (especially at change of light / dawn & dusk) – something it was safe to do where they fledged from – then they won’t last long. Very few will still be alive come nesting time, if they try and stay around.
Such a scenario of a person driving slowly on a country road and shooting buzzards or any wildlife from the vehicle might create an opportunity for the police to target and prosecute the wildlife criminals?
It as an offence to discharge a shotgun within 50ft of the centre of the carriageway.
It is also an offence to have a loaded firearm in a public place, without reasonable excuse. This would include any public highway.
I guess since it is an offence to discharge a firearm within 50ft of the centre of a highway, then there really can be no reasonable excuse for having a loaded firearm in a vehicle being driven on public roads.
This might afford the police grounds to randomly stop vehicles seen driving slowly in areas where raptor persecution incidents are occurring and birds of prey are being shot. If a firearm is seen in the vehicle, then the police would have right to enquire if the weapon was loaded.
It might also give them grounds to stop and the check the quad bikes which are frequently seen on shooting estates with firearms strapped across the handlebars.
If it was found such quad bikes were being used on public roads, and any firearm carried was loaded, then the rider may be committing an offence.
The police really do need to get much more proactive if they want to try and prevent the ceaseless persecution of raptors, and that must mean using the law to their advantage, even if it does result in certain sections of the community being inconvenienced.
Since we are repeatedly told by the shooting industry that it doesn’t tolerate raptor persecution, then one would hope all the umbrella shooting organisations might support such measures, as if their words are to be believed, then none of their members would be breaking the law, and one would hope, they would be all too helpful in trying to catch the criminals who are committing these crimes!
My knowledge of the law is poor, regards the legality or illegality of shooting from the road when you own the land both sides of it and there is nobody about. I think it is legal as long as you do not “distress the public / disturb the peace” or something like that. But I do know that it is absolutely standard practice to shoot “vermin” (take your pick what you include in this category) from the vehicle on public roads (mainly back roads but even A roads at quiet times of day) be it a Landrover, a Hilux type, a Polaris type or a quad type vehicle in all of the grouse shooting areas I have any knowledge of. Obviously the extent to which this is done will vary according to the approach of each keeper and his judgement as to the likely gains or whether he thinks it is likely to draw scrutiny of him. I know I have mentioned this before, but I knew of several keepers who at first light in summer would squash 20 or more dead rabbits at intervals along lengths of very quiet road maybe 2miles long or so, and just drive backwards and forwards for several hours and shoot crows, gulls and “other” things too, then naff off once the road started to get used about half seven.
It may have seemed out of context my mentioning the influence of the King and the Privy Council. People generally have no idea of the influence and power of the monarchy and the establishment over the populace. Hunting and shooting is very important to them and this is an enormous hurdle to surmount.