Egg thief sentenced for stealing from endangered wild birds in the Peak District and Holmfirth

23rd April 2021 Terence Potter from Huddersfield has been sentenced in court after taking 200 eggs from endangered wild birds. Mr Potter, 63, was given a 12-week sentence, suspended for 12 months, today, (23 April) at Sheffield Magistrates' Court, for offences relating to the taking and possession of wild birds’ eggs. He was charged with …

Gamekeeper filmed killing two Buzzards but gets away with it

Original post from Raptor Persecution UK - Gamekeeper filmed shooting 2 buzzards on grouse moor in Yorkshire Dales national park 9th March 2021 The RSPB Investigations Team has published a blog this morning, detailing their undercover work filming a gamekeeper on a grouse moor in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, who used a tethered eagle …

Terrence Potter previous conviction

‘Obsessed’ lorry driver hoarded 500 illegal birds’ eggs 11th January 2013 Terrence Potter became “obsessed” by the colourful eggs and spent around two years gathering more for his collection. More than 500 were held illegally and included the eggs of protected species, among them owls, spoonbills, sparrowhawks and kestrels. Last year he illegally gathered the …

Caerphilly man found guilty of hunting and killing badger

13th December 2020 A MAN is facing a prison sentence after he was convicted after a trial of hunting and killing a badger. Dewi James Price, 39, of Commercial Street, New Tredegar, Caerphilly, was also found guilty of offences against red kites. He had denied the charges during a trial at Newport Magistrates’ Court. Price …

Grouse shooting licence move sparks ‘dismay’

26th November 2020 Licensing is to be introduced for Scottish shooting estates in a bid to make them more accountable for practices such as raptor persecution. It comes despite strong opposition from land managers who claim it will make their businesses unprofitable. The Scottish government said it would bring forward legislation in the next parliamentary …

Man charged for Peak District theft of Peregrine Falcon eggs

17th November 2020 A man has been charged with theft in connection with an incident in the spring where Peregrine Falcon eggs were allegedly stolen in the Peak District. John Fenton, of Bridgemont, Whaley Bridge, was charged with the offence following an investigation by the Derbyshire Rural Crime Team and work by the RSPB. It …

Another good article by Channel 4 News

21st September 2020 Is the Queen about to turn her back on grouse shooting? It's long been under scrutiny over the potential damage it does to wildlife and the environment. Now the government's decision to exempt hunting and shooting from the Covid rule of six has led many to turn their fire on the grouse-shooting …

Grouse Shooting And Hunting Exempt From Johnson’s ‘Rule Of Six’ Covid Curbs

14th September 2020 Boris Johnson is facing a fresh row over his new coronavirus “rule of six” curbs after it emerged that the government has exempted grouse shooting and other “hunting” with guns from the restrictions. Pro-hunting and shooting groups can continue to hold gatherings of between six and 30 people because they are covered …

Third red kite vanishes in grouse shooting area

6th August 2020 ANOTHER protected bird of prey has vanished in suspicious circumstances prompting further concerns they are being killed illegally. Two red kites and one hen harrier, one of England’s rarest breeding birds, have vanished suddenly and unexpectedly in the same area of the North Pennines AONB since last October. The birds, all of …

Three gamekeepers suspended over killing of goshawk on Queen’s land

Three men have been questioned by police over the death of a protected bird of prey on a shoot in the North York Moors that is owned by the Queen. By Grace Newton Tuesday, 21st July 2020 The head gamekeeper and two underkeepers on the Goathland estate were interviewed under caution by North Yorkshire Police …