Police investigate bird shooting at wildlife haven
POLICE are investigating after an ecological survey team found geese and a swan shot dead, with others injured, in North Yorkshire.
Officers say they are treating the incident at Norton Mills Lake, North Stainley, Ripon, as an act of animal cruelty, involving Canada and Greylag geese and a Mute Swan.
They had been shot with a large calibre rifle and police say the incident, at one of the most important wildlife sites in the north of England, also put the public at risk.
The RSPB, RSPCA, The National Wildlife Crime Unit and Natural England are providing support to police. Pc Simon Crossley said the incident was an “utterly barbaric and sickening attack”.