Raptor rehabilitation expert Jean Thorpe posted on social media yesterday about an injured Buzzard that was found grounded near Wigginton, York.
The Buzzard was taken to Battle Flatts Veterinary Clinic where an x-ray revealed a shotgun pellet lodged in her leg and associated feather damage.
The Buzzard is currently undergoing rehabilitation with Jean.
The Buzzard was found on 26 January 2026. If you have any information about this, or any other raptor persecution incidents in North Yorkshire, please contact the police and the RSPB Investigations Team.
Raptor Persecution UK 
there must be something wrong with people who do this unbelievable
Thankyou.
The Buzzard was found on 25th January 2026. I think it must have been shot close to that date as the bird found it difficult to stand. She is standing now and was on a top perch this morning.
Thanks, Jean, will update the blog.
And thank you for all your work.
It is clear that the shotgun licensing laws are nowhere near effective enough. Ownership needs tightening up. I cannot see any reason why any individual needs one. Clay / skeet shoots should own organisational guns that are kept on site within the club, counted out and counted back in.
It goes without saying that pheasant, partridge and grouse shooting need to be similarly organised, with guns held by the estate and, again, only allowed out on shooting days. No farmer or gamekeeper needs to carry one: we have nothing that needs shooting as a threat to farming or shooting estates. It should be illegal to be carrying one, broken or not, outside of those specified events,.