Sparrowhawk caught with glue then shot in Yorkshire

Officers from South Yorkshire Police (SYP) are investigating reports of a bird of prey being deliberately killed and have issued a public appeal to help find those responsible.

On Sunday 10 April a member of the public found a Eurasian Sparrowhawk in a plastic bag in a drainage ditch in the Thorne area, close to the canal.

The sparrowhawk had been stuck to a bamboo stick with glue. On examining the bird, it was discovered it had been shot with a pellet gun. The species is protected under Section 1 of The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

The Eurasian Sparrowhawk had been trapped using glue on a bamboo stick then shot with a pellet gun (South Yorkshire Police).

Investigating Officer PC Sarah Barrowcliffe said: "Sparrowhawks are a protected species and it is an offence to harm them. This was a shocking act violence against a beautiful and defenceless bird and officers are working hard to identify those responsible. SYP is committed to the investigation of serious wildlife offences, including the killing of birds of prey."

If you have any information that can help officers please call 101, quoting incident number 918 of 11 April.

Alternatively, you can stay completely anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers via crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling its UK Contact Centre on 0800 555 111.