Marsh harrier found shot on North York Moors as police appeal

The young bird was discovered unable to fly in the Westerdale area of the North York Moors National Park on Friday 28 August, and an examination established that it had been shot. Officers believe it had been lying injured for several days before it was found, and its wounds were so severe that it was put down on welfare grounds.

What are the police asking for?

North Yorkshire Police want to hear from anyone who saw suspicious activity in the Westerdale area in late August, or who holds information that could assist the investigation. Callers should ring 101 and quote incident number 12260171320.

A police spokesperson said: “If you have concerns regarding the persecution of birds of prey or any other wildlife crime, please report the matter to the police.”

“Information from the public can play a vital role in helping to protect wildlife and bring offenders to justice,” the spokesperson added.

Protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

The marsh harrier is a specially protected bird of prey under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is an offence to intentionally kill, injure or disturb the birds, or to damage or destroy their nests or eggs.

Raptor persecution cases carry a heavy cost for the shooting community, whatever their origin, and the sector’s organisations have repeatedly condemned the illegal killing of birds of prey.

How has Yorkshire Wildlife Trust responded?

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust said on 22 September that it was “outraged” by the shooting, noting the bird “had been left to suffer for days until found”. The trust called for stronger Government action on wildlife crime and said, in its view, the shooting industry’s “self-policing” approach is failing.

The trust also cited an RSPB report which it said showed one in five confirmed shooting cases in England over the past 10 years took place in North Yorkshire. Shooting organisations have repeatedly condemned the illegal killing of birds of prey, and none of the main bodies had issued a statement on the Westerdale incident by the time of writing.

Where does enforcement stand?

The appeal comes in the same week the Home Office confirmed to MPs that it is providing more than £800,000 in 2026/27 for the National Rural Crime Unit and the National Wildlife Crime Unit, under the Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy running to 2028. Defra has separately put £530,000 into the wildlife crime unit’s work this year.

What happens next

The investigation remains open. Anyone with information should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 12260171320, and reports of suspected raptor persecution anywhere in the UK should go to the local force in the first instance.