Red Kite found shot on Durham grouse moor

A Red Kite has recently been found shot with a broken wing on a grouse moor in Durham.

The kite was found "peppered with shot" in Edmundbyers, near Consett, on 17 March. It then received round-the-clock care at Ryedale Wildlife Rescue in Malton, North Yorkshire. Durham Police are investigating and urging anyone with information to contact the force.

The Red Kite found shot on a Durham grouse moor (RSPB).

It follows the shooting of another Red Kite in the Scottish Highlands in March, prompting that bird to be put down.

A member of the public had been walking near Burnhope Burn when they saw the bird hiding in bracken. It was reported to the RSPB and inspectors arrived and took the bird to a vet. The bird then went into the care of volunteer Jean Thorpe at Ryedale Wildlife Rescue, and has been able to feed itself.

Jack Ashton-Booth, investigations officer at the RSPB, said: "We are incredibly grateful to the diligent member of the community who noticed and reported the bird, and urge anyone else who finds a dead or injured bird of prey in suspicious circumstances to do the same."

Durham Police said an investigation was under way and urged anyone who might have been in the area, or had seen anything suspicious, to contact them.