If ever there was an example demonstrating the high level of persecution faced by Hen Harriers on UK grouse moors, the lack of consequences for the offenders, and the lack of justice for the victims, the short life of a Hen Harrier called ‘Susie’ illustrates it all.
Susie hatched in Cumbria in 2020 and was satellite-tagged by Natural England on 21 July 2020. She first bred in Bowland in 2021, and the following year she moved up to a grouse moor near Whernside in the Yorkshire Dales National Park where she produced four chicks.
The Whernside nest was being monitored (nest camera) by Natural England as part of the ludicrous Hen Harrier Brood Meddling Trial. On 20 June 2022, NE researchers noticed that Susie’s satellite tag was unexpectedly and abruptly shown tracking approximately 35km away from her nest. An adult female should be attentive and close to her nest during this period. Her sudden exit from the nest area was worrying.
The following day, Natural England field staff visited the nest and made the grim discovery of three dead Hen Harrier chicks.
Reviewing the nest camera footage, they saw that after dark, at 9.54pm on 15 June 2022, the camera showed the nest site appeared normal with Susie settled in the nest with her chicks. However, at 9.59pm a sudden irregular ‘whiteout’ of the camera occurred, blinding the camera.
The camera used was movement-activated, and it was not triggered again until the following morning when footage captured apparently dead chicks in the nest and Susie attempting to feed them.
She could be seen removing her dead chicks from the nest. Three of these were found just outside the nest, and it is not known where she deposited the fourth.
Post-mortem examinations of the three chicks were subsequently conducted and showed that each suffered with multiple fractured bones including the humerus in one chick, both femurs in the second chick, and in the third chick, the humerus and a crushed skull. The fractures were complete and showed a considerable trauma had taken place for each chick.
It’s quite clear that ‘someone’ had visited the nest, disabled the camera, and stamped the chicks to death.
Six months later (!), in December 2022, North Yorkshire Police laid out the evidence and issued an appeal for information (see here).
Representatives from the grouse shooting industry responded by trying to manipulate the narrative of this brutal and sadistic crime (see here) and of course, nobody came forward with any information that could identify the person / people responsible.
The following year, in 2023, the story featured in a three-episode podcast by The Guardian, called ‘Killing the Skydancer’ (here, here and here). Meanwhile, Susie bred successfully (unknown location) and fledged five chicks. It was to be her last breeding season.
In April 2024, Natural England published its latest update on the fate of its satellite-tagged Hen Harriers. It did so quietly, without any publicity whatsoever. Susie’s entry on that spreadsheet read,
‘Last known transmission 12 February 2024, Northumberland. Found dead. Site confidential. Recovered, awaiting post mortem’.
Nothing more was heard about Susie’s fate until a year later, in another spreadsheet update in April 2025. Susie’s entry now read:
‘Ongoing police investigation, final transmission location temporarily withheld at police request‘.
Again, there was no publicity about Susie, or about any of the other Natural England-tagged Hen Harriers that had either ‘vanished’ or had been found dead in suspicious circumstances.
Over one and a half year’s after Susie was found dead, the details have finally emerged, and once again Natural England has slipped them out quietly, without fanfare or commentary, in its October 2025 spreadsheet update. Susie’s entry now reads:
‘Found dead 12 February 2024, Northumberland, Grid reference NY759585. Confirmed dead, had been victim of shooting. When found dead remains would not allow determination of whether the bird died as a result of being shot. Bird died between 25 November 2023 and 12 February 2024‘.
Susie’s corpse was found on a grouse moor in the North Pennines National Landscape (a so-called protected landscape, formerly known as the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, AONB), and the grid reference places her on what I believe to be the Whitfield Estate:
Susie had been shot at some point, but where, and when, is not known.
There is no suggestion that she was shot and killed on the Whitfield Estate – she could have been shot many months earlier and survived for a while before succumbing to her injuries. Without seeing the post mortem and x-ray results (which have not been published), it’s impossible to know whether her gunshot injuries caused any broken bones that could have impeded her ability to fly any distance.
That Susie was the victim of at least two separate persecution incidents (that we know about) during her three-and-a-half-year life, illustrates the severity of threat this species still faces in the UK. This should come as no surprise to anybody who has been following this blog for any length of time, nor to those who may have read the RSPB’s damning 2025 report, Hen Harriers in the Firing Line.
These appalling crimes continue because hardly anyone is ever brought to justice. There is rarely any consequence for the offenders, which gives them the green light to carry on.
There has been a change in tactics by the raptor killers in recent years, as we saw in the RSPB’s covert footage in Oct 2024 where three individuals were caught plotting, and then apparently shooting, a Hen Harrier on a grouse moor in Grassington in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. They specifically targeted the Hen Harrier that was not carrying a ‘box’ (a satellite tag) because they thought that by doing so their crime would be undetected. A gamekeeper is standing trial in January 2026 for his alleged involvement – he denies it – it will be up to the court to decide whether he was involved or not.
That case is a very uncommon prosecution, reliant on evidence provided by the RSPB’s excellent Investigations Team.
There won’t be a prosecution for the shooting of Hen Harrier Susie because there’s no evidence (that I’m aware of) that links an identified individual to that crime. Just as there was no prosecution of the person(s) responsible for stamping her chicks to death in their nest in 2022.
We all get it – finding sufficient evidence to prosecute those responsible for committing crimes in remote landscapes is incredibly difficult, but the investigating authorities could, and should, be doing much more to publicise these offences to raise awareness and help the general public spot suspicious activity.
The police’s appeal for information about the chick-stamping crime in the Yorkshire Dales National Park came six months after the event – that’s pathetic.
I haven’t seen ANY police appeal or press release about the shooting of Susie or the discovery of her corpse in Northumberland in February 2024. Not a single word.
Where is the publicity from the National Wildlife Crime Unit-led Hen Harrier Taskforce? The specialist group set up explicitly to tackle the ongoing illegal killing of Hen Harriers. Not a single word.
Where is the publicity from the police-led Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group (RPPDG), one of whose functions is apparently ‘awareness raising‘ and ‘raising the profile [of illegal raptor persecution] via media exposure‘? Not a single word.
Natural England has remained tight-lipped, as it always does, claiming that it requires the go-ahead from the police to issue any media. Why? Sure, in the early stages of a police investigation keeping quiet is often necessary to avoid alerting the perpetrator who may take the opportunity to remove/hide evidence before the police turn up. But 18+ months of silence, about a crime that relates to a publicly-funded project, and then to quietly slip out the information buried deep inside a spreadsheet?
Honestly, this needn’t be so bloody difficult.
Raptor Persecution UK 
What IS wrong with these self centred a’holes? Really? It’s not like these birds decimate their precious game birds, they’re ALL birds, leave them alone! I wish there were way harsher punishments for these people and their overlords
The way I see it is that there exists a conspiracy between the official bodies, police included, to obstruct any investigation which genuinely attempts to identify the criminals responsible. This would be a criminal offence in itself, Misconduct in Public Office. So far they must all be congratulating themselves in getting away with it.
Hi Frances,
I’m not one for conspiracy theory, and there are without doubt some excellent police wildlife crime officers, supported in their role by committed and dedicated senior officers, but often thwarted by a lack of available resources and the recognised difficulties of securing sufficient evidence to charge a suspect.
However, I do believe that there are also some police wildlife crime officers who are actively disruptive of investigations, and I believe this is linked to them having a vested interest in the gamebird shooting industry.
Met lots of the former group, indeed most of the WCOs I’ve met (And there are quite a few) and few notables in the latter category few they may be and have been but their effects can be catastrophic.
Vicarious responsibility ? or is that also unlikely to ever be used due to ‘conflicts of interest’ and being buddies with these disgustingly cruel individuals ? ( or is everyone afraid of them)
Greyandblue,
Vicarious liability can only be used when there is an established link between the offender and his/her supervisor/employer. Given that nobody has been identified as the one who shot Susie (i.e. the offender), it follows that his/her supervisor/employer is also unidentifiable.
Thankyou: So then is this wrong.
”Key Points of Vicarious Liability in Scotland
The law applies to individuals who hold the right to kill or take wild birds or who manage that right. The primary offence must have been committed by someone with a specific relationship to the accused (e.g., an employee or contractor). Importantly, proceedings can be brought against the employer or landowner regardless of whether the person who physically committed the offence is identified or prosecuted. ”
Or is it simply deemed not worth the bother given the landowner will manufacture a defence that’ll be presented by some expensive lawyer. ?
No, it’s not wrong per se – but in the case we’re discussing (the shooting of Hen Harrier Susie), it’s not even known where she was shot, so a prosecution for alleged vicarious liability isn’t going to get very far!
Oh ok, apologies…I’d thought she was discovered on the Whitfield Estate. If that isn’t sufficient to prosecute then to my mind the very idea of using VL as a means to prosecute is meaningless. One does wonder why where a dead creature is found is not enough for it to be triggered…..
This tiptoeing around and trying to reason with the monsters who either commit these horriffic crimes or as landowners or employers are fine with them occurring have surely been given enough chances to clean up their acts and it’s reached sledgehammer time !
This suffering needs to stop, one way or another.
Does nobody care about these poor poor beautiful birds….somebody MUST ban the bloody vile hobby FGS.
Sorry but I find these things unbearable to even speak about :(
It’s definitely not sufficient to prosecute – as discussed in the blog, she could have been shot elsewhere and survived for some time before succumbing to her injuries.
Bear in mind also that a lot of wildlife crime offences take place on the boundaries of neighbouring estates, precisely to obfuscate and obstruct investigations and avoid detection, putting the finger of suspicion on entirely innocent individuals.
There have also been instances of gamekeepers walking on to a neighbouring estate (which may be being managed for nature conservation purposes and not for recreational shooting) and committing an offence, before jumping back on to their own estate.
There is also the fact of course that the VL laws do only apply in Scotland
Totally understand the passion you have on this point but by coincidence I was just looking at the last blog on poisoning locations (and the data in the research), and was reminded just how problematic this issue is. Poisoned bird no.69 (buzzard) was found in 2015 in same general area as Susie – ie both in a really strong shooting heartland – BUT the grid reference suggests the buzzard corpse was found on the edge of (or even actually in) the Allen Gorge woods a relatively small area owned by National Trust since post-War years. What would be done regards vicarious liability in this case?
“Where is the publicity from the National Wildlife Crime Unit-led Hen Harrier Taskforce? The specialist group set up explicitly to tackle the ongoing illegal killing of Hen Harriers. Not a single word.”
We have the opportunity to ask the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit directly on Tuesday 27th January 17.30, where they will be sharing ‘true stories from the frontline of wildlife crime policing’ in the Yorkshire Dales, as part of the Eyes on the Skies campaign.
https://friendsofthedales.org.uk/events
This is not only utterly appalling , as all killing of our precious protected raptors is but also a total failure. A failure generally by the police and courts for not putting so much fear and trepidation in the minds of the criminals that such crimes cease to be routine because of the consequences. Again a failure by the police and NE for not making far more of the original finding and the any appeals, 6 months then 2 years down the line is as they must be aware pointless. then NE sneaking out the data unannounced, WTF they should be shouting this from the roof tops, what are they afraid of the Grousers have already fallen out with them because of BM and burning ( Good for NE for once) so it is not relationship damaging. Every time a harrier goes missing or is found dead in such circumstances the PR should be such that nobody can ignore it or pretend it isn’t happening.
As to the criminals themselves they are lower than shit on a shoe, beyond all contempt with their “hobby”, “industry” and/or employment in the queue for consignment to the gutter of history, we just need some politicians brave enough to push them through the door.
Agree with you completely. Only people you forgot to mention are those that to me are above all of others mainly responsible. The Owners and the Agents. Well educated – ridiculously privileged in the cases of many Owners. Knowing full well the moral, civic, democratic and social wrong they are perpetuating along with the “basic” wrong against the laws of wildlife protection. I read the excellent book on Andy & Fergie called “Entitled’ the other week. While I have zero personal knowledge or experience of those two, but do have a fair bit on some very rich Owners, I was constantly smiling at the parallels between them all. Owners greed and “entitlement” is to me the main root cause of the persecution issue. And governments of all types just don’t want to upset these powerful people by enforcing the law equally to all.
I’ve worked for some of these people and concur completely.
They seem to not think about any of the things they do, merely follow their own kind unquestioningly…….
Having met many of them myself, or know folk who know many more well, I agree entirely. One very small issue quite a few would claim to be well educated, often by public schools, but in reality several I’ve met are running a close second to two short planks.
We need a dedicated MP, like Rupert Lowe, who will take this on and run with it, because, at the moment, it all seems to be a massive cover up
Rupert Lowe is far more likely to run with the hounds on this one and any other “countryside ” issue, awful man.
When he’s not XXXXX XXXXX, he’s busy patrolling the coast for charity rowers!
Good luck with that…
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/25258624.norfolk-mp-rupert-lowe-got-staff-member-shoot-dog/
The Guardian did an excellent podcast on Susie & the stamped on chicks. It was memorable to me because after a bullish stance in the beginning of his interview – the head policeman was subtly taken apart by the journalist and shown up quite nakedly as having done f-k all, his voice getting all tight-throated which made me laugh.
Produced in the next breeding summer, I can remember the last words of the last episode on it were something along lines of ‘Susie is now trying to raising chicks again this year and reports are that they are doing well’ or something like that.
But now the story seems to need completion. I think a Part Two is definitely needed, with repeat interviews with those interviewed in the first one, or their replacements, etc.
Yes we need a strong voice to BAN GROUSE SHOOTING ALTOGETHER.
Susie deserved better than this.Absolutely disgusting.
The countryside dwellers do not need these evil people killing just for pleasure.Its a stain on us.
Another medal for Tony the Tory.
“for Tony the Tory.”
Still deluded, I see:-(
Still the blogs self appointed co editor I see
Has I’ve said before there might be a jug of milk in the fridge, but there’s not a coo in the backyard.
[Ed: comment deleted. Enough]
There should be a law that puts a barcode in each shotgun pellet. As you may already know, I am a great fan of X-ray spectroscopy but I am sure the alloys in the pellets could be spiked by batch with the relevant X-ray responsive markers to give each pellet a signature. I mean it’s basically a great idea anyway and would probably make all gun crime instantly and very easily solvable. With records of who has purchased which batches of ammunition and a law making only the purchaser allowed to use the ammunition they have bought, every shell or pellet would be instantly traceable. The Shotgun people could pay to do this as a punishment for failing to self regulate.
“There should be a law that puts a barcode in each shotgun pellet.”
Absolutely unfeasible, sorry. How many shotgun pellets are made each year, and how long do you think the barcode would need to be to be unique over, say, 20 years?
And even a child can produce shotgun pellets at home from scrap lead. Remember, Raoul Moat made his own ammunition specifically to be more lethal:-(
Considering the number of homicides in the States from shotguns, why do you not think any such scheme has ever previously been derived?
Things being brushed under the carpet again. There must be people in North Yorkshire Police and Natural England jamming up the cogs so that prompt disclosure of potential offences and appeals thereon are not published.
It seems to be an attitude of deference particularly in the Dales which is the worst place for raptor persecution in the country – heads should be knocked together by Westminster ministers to get this attitude changed but national politicians/officials seem to be just as bad.
I don’t think so, just inefficient, over worked and of course whatever they do nobody will go to court for this.
“heads should be knocked together by Westminster ministers to get this attitude changed”
But wildlife crime is not a recordable offence.
I think there are parallels between the elite who engage in criminal activities relating to wild life, raptors etc and those who are responsible for child abuse. I am sure that some of you will find this to be a strange comment but there is evidence for our great and good being involved in paedophilia. This is always covered up by the establishment who protects their own, Freemasons in particular. In the UK the children of the elite tend to be packed off to public schools where there are all sorts of perverse practices. These children are inculcated with an attitude that they are superior beings and have rights to behave as they like towards others, whether animal, or human. The child abuse in the North Wales children’s homes, which went on for decades, was conducted by many high profile people, police included. The appalling crimes were covered up by the same establishment that protected their own. Despite many so called independent inquiries, the truth has never come out. It is a known fact that many of the victims have met with untimely and suspicious deaths. The UK remains a class ridden society and this enables the elite to escape any form of punishment/justice. In the case of persecution of our wonderful raptors, this is what we are up against. The system allows to conduct themselves as they like with no censure. On the contrary, it allows them to commit crimes repeatedly. They are above the law.