A PIGEON had its wings glued together and two more were found laced with poison and tied to a quarry ledge.
Police are hunting the sick attackers who may be using the tactic as bait to lure and kill protected birds of prey, such as peregrine falcons, which eat pigeons.
Officers are investigating a motive for the cruelty to the pigeons – and possibly the falcons – after the discoveries at an old quarry in Penmaenmawr over the past few days.
But they are also concerned about the risk to public health from poison.
Sergeant Rob Taylor, North Wales Police wildlife and environment officer, said: “People are putting out tethered pigeons, tied to the ground, with poison on them. Two were found yesterday in an old quarry above Penmaenmawr and another has been found with their wings glued together.
“Laying poison on open land is an offence. It is callous and indiscriminate. If a child picks up one of these pigeons and touches the poison then licks their hand, they could die.â€
Anyone caught and convicted faces up to six months imprisonment under the Environmental Protection Act.
Police say there are legitimate ways to leave poison, for example, for rats in special boxes which only small rodents can get into.
A nesting pair of peregrine falcons lives in the Penmaenmawr area. And Sgt Taylor added: “Whoever is doing this is targeting the peregrines for some reason. We deplore the killing of birds of prey which are legally protected.â€
Peregrines chiefly hunt birds such as starlings, pigeons, blackbirds, jays, shorebirds, and waterfowl, and will even take on mammals, reptiles, and insects. Peregrines may use a variety of hunting techniques, but typically prey is captured in the air after a fast pursuit or a rapid dive.
It is believed to be the fastest animal on earth, having been clocked in diving speeds of up to 90 metres per second.
No motive for covering the pigeons with poison has been found but one theory is that substances such as weedkiller would kill the falcons so that they wouldn’t attack other, valuable, racing pigeons in mid air.
The Royal Pigeon Racing Association condemned the poisoning practice and said that there are legitimate ways to tackle predatory birds of prey such as using Government-allocated licences to control their numbers, or relocation schemes.
RPRA general manager Stewart Wardrop, based in Cheltenham, said: “We don’t condone this sort of behaviour.
“Hawks and birds of prey do take pigeons (in mid air). We are actively lobbying the Government to find ways to control their populations. But they have to be legitimate methods, which may involve applying for a licence from the Government or relocating the birds of prey possibly in partnership with the RSPB, which do not put the public at risk.
“The main way to control the wild bird population is through Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)â€
Anyone finding a tethered pigeon should call North Wales Police on 101 or the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.
Oh how sick are some people!!
Daily Post UK
