Wildlife crime: Police investigate shooting of heron in Leeds country park

A heron which had become a familiar feature in West Leeds Country Park has been found shot dead.
The heron was found dead near Burley Goit yesterday morning.The heron was found dead near Burley Goit yesterday morning.
The heron was found dead near Burley Goit yesterday morning.

The bird’s body was discovered in a field near Burley Goit, a stretch of water which once powered Burley Mills.

Local resident Bobby Bowker said: “This wonderful heron has been living here in the goit, adjacent farm land and the River Aire for 15 years.

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“For somebody to be able to shoot a bird like this is just awful. It's a really big loss.”

The heron is believed to have been killed by a single shot from an air rifle.The heron is believed to have been killed by a single shot from an air rifle.
The heron is believed to have been killed by a single shot from an air rifle.

Miss Bowker, 47, is part of the Friends of Burley Mills and St Anne’s Woods and Wildlife – a group of volunteers who carry out environmental work in the woods near the goit.

Their activities include clearing the grate weekly so the water flows freely and there are fish for heron and other birds to eat.

Miss Bowker said she had gone to take pictures of the heron and other wildlife on Tuesday morning when another local woman told her about what had happened.

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“The heron has been a big part of many of the locals’ daily life as we often saw the wonder of him flying over his territory,” she said.

The bird was a regular sight for residents living near West Leeds Country Park.The bird was a regular sight for residents living near West Leeds Country Park.
The bird was a regular sight for residents living near West Leeds Country Park.

“He was seen daily at 8am in the morning and at dusk fishing in the goit, or often sitting on on the metal railings at the weir at the end of the woodland path.”

The incident is now under investigation by wildlife officers based at Pudsey Police Station, who examined the heron’s body after it was found.

It is believed the bird was killed by a single shot from an air rifle.

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Anybody with information on this matter or any other wildlife crime is asked to contact PC Turner or PCSO Poole via 101, quoting crime number 13170082364.

Visit the Friends of Burley Mills and St Anne’s Woods and Wildlife page on Facebook here and the Recording Wildlife in Leeds page here.

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