The home of Shooting Times and Sporting Gun


Thousands of dead pheasant and partridge chicks found

More than 2,500 dead or dying day-old pheasant and partridge chicks were found by the RSPCA dumped in boxes in Stoke-on-Trent, in Staffordshire, on 1 July.

The 33 boxes were discovered by RSPCA inspector John Groarke on Chemical Lane, which leads to Queensway Industrial estate.

“The RSPCA is now appealing to the shooting community for information. I am angry that someone dumped these chicks to die. It was extremely distressing to open the boxes and find that most of the chicks had been overcome by the heat,” he said.

BASC’s Stephen Toft commented: “Given the extreme temperatures recently, leaving these birds on the side of the road has to be seen as a reckless act of cruelty and BASC has no hesitation in condemning it. BASC prides itself on promoting the highest standards of game rearing and strongly urges anyone with
information concerning this incident to come forward.”

To report information regarding this incident, tel 0300 1234 999.