Poisoned and restrained pigeons are being used as ‘bait’ at an English beauty spot to lure in protected birds of prey.
The birds are tied to posts, leaving them flapping and panicking as they know they are exposed to predators.
Clee Hill in Shropshire is a prime spot for the world’s fastest-flying birds of prey – peregrine falcons – and they see the pigeons as easy meat.
They then rip their prey to shreds and die from poisoning after eating them.
Angry villagers say the poisonings are ‘bring shame’ to the small community.
‘They use live pigeons as bait they paint poison on the feathers, tie it to a stake, and put it near where the peregrines are nesting,’ said John Turner of the Shropshire Peregrine Group.
He said there had been a string of attacks, with the latest targeting a pair of peregrines which began nesting on the hillside in April.
The female had a clutch of eggs, which will now die because she has been killed.
‘She was found by the site warden,’ Mr Turner said, ‘There was the body of a poisoned pigeon very near the dead female peregrine.
‘The male will have been killed as well but we have not recovered his body yet.
‘We think this is a repeat of what happened four years ago in 2017. We thought we had put a stop to it.
‘Another poisoned pigeon was found along with a dead fox which had eaten it. We know who is responsible, and local people know who is responsible.
‘I urge local residents of Clee Hill to call out the individuals responsible for these crimes, many of whom are well known in the area, and provide the police with information about their criminal activities.’
He claims a quarter of Shropshire’s population of around 40 peregrine falcons has been lost since 2010 as a result.
It is thought the torturers may hide nearby to sickeningly watch the birds die.
Mr Turner added: ‘It is a very slow, agonising death for the peregrines. It’s got to stop. It’s a disgraceful episode of wildlife crime and persecution of these birds of prey.’
He warned the poisoned birds could be a risk to pet dogs and cats which might eat or come in contact with the carcasses.
Peregrines are often described as Britain’s most beautiful bird of prey, but were hunted to near-extinction in the 19th century.
They have recently staged a comeback but some keepers still consider them a pest as they prey on pheasants and other game birds.
‘The manner in which these killings are carried out points to the involvement of some individuals who are openly campaigning for the removal of peregrine falcons and other birds of prey from some areas of countryside,’ Mr Turner said.
‘These killings are well planned and executed, using similar methods on each occasion.’
Peregrine falcons are now protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and the maximum penalty for killing or deliberately injuring one is a fine of £5,000 and six months in prison.
Both the West Mercia Police wildlife crime unit and the RSPB confirmed they are investigating the incident and are appealing for information.
A statement said: ‘The body of the the female peregrine was recovered together with a pigeon that had been used as bait.
‘The male bird has not been found, but is also believed to have been killed. The baited pigeon at the scene indicates that poison was used to kill both birds.
‘We are asking members of the public walking on Clee Hill common with children and pets to be aware and to take care that poison bait may still be around and not to touch any dead animals that they may come across if they do see any such animals or anything suspicious, to please call police.’
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
