Dead birds a ‘bid to poison local wildlife’

animal welfare legislation in Europe, with a maximum fiveyear sentence, lifetime bans from keeping animals and fines of up to £20,000.

But both groups say prosecutions are few and sentences are often not an adequate deterrent.

Mr Mullan said we should follow the example of England and Wales, where prosecutions often result in jail sentences and lengthy bans. POLICE in Londonderry are investigating after the carcasses of game birds were discovered pegged up in a forest in what appears to have been an effort to poison wildlife.

An appeal was put out on social media on Saturday evening, with pictures showing at least five dead birds surrounded by raw meat near Victoria Road.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “We will be having these examined to find out what surprises have been left on the carcasses and other raw meat, but the current popular poisons used for wildlife crime are toxic to humans and potentially fatal to children”.

Wildlife expert Mick Conway told the BBC that badgers and foxes are targeted quite often, while red squirrels could also be affected by such actions.

Asking anyone with information to come forward, the PSNI added: “It beggars belief that these have been left in a public place where kids could pick them up. An investigation has commenced.”