North Yorkshire Police: wrong not to charge man who set illegal Mossdale bird traps

Bob Smith, Editor

Wednesday 06 July 2016 07:56 PM GMT

Police have said they made a mistake in only issuing a caution to a man who admitted setting three illegal traps for birds of prey in the Yorkshire Dales.

But the North Yorkshire force said the junior gamekeeper will not face further action, despite criticism of the original decision by a conservation group.

North Yorkshire Police said it had reviewed the decision by officers not to pursue the case in court and admitted it had not followed guidelines. However, the Crown Prosecution Service decided it would not take any further action.

The 23-year-old man from the Hawes area was covertly filmed by Royal Society for the Protection of Birds investigators, resetting pole traps on the Mossdale Estate on the flanks of Widdale Fell.

The RSPB was critical of the police decision to issue a simple caution for the offence. The traps, which snap shut on a bird’s legs, have been outlawed for more than 100 years. A hen harrier was spotted in the area where the traps had been placed.

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RSPB disappointed with outcome of case, but defence says gamekeeper was demonised

A GAMEKEEPER on an expensive shooting estate has been fined after admitting setting a trap which could injure wild birds.

Harrogate Magistrates Court heard the RSPB and two expert witnesses were convinced Ryan Waite, who maintained the Swinton estate 10,000-acre grouse moor in the Yorkshire Dales, had intended to target birds of prey.

RSPB investigators covertly filmed Waite, of Healey, near Ripon, resetting a spring-loaded pole trap on top of a six foot tree stump in June last year.

Kim Coley, prosecuting, said Waite was also filmed removing the trap when officials visited the area over a separate matter.

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Nikita the Steller's sea eagle on the loose in Yorkshire Dales

A giant sea eagle with an 8ft wing-span is loose in the Yorkshire Dales after escaping from its trainer.

Chris O’Donnell lost Nikita, a Steller’s sea eagle, after training in windy conditions near Brackenbottom, North Yorks, and believes the 10-year-old eagle may have been blown off course.

Police today stated the bird was not dangerous to the public, but yesterday tweeted a warning to pet owners to keep small animals indoors.

Nikita's trainer said yesterday: “She’s massive – like a small glider,” but reassured people the eagle was harmless.

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UPDATE:

Missing Nikita the Steller's sea eagle is found in Lancashire

A giant bird of prey which went missing in the Yorkshire Dales six days ago has been found safe and well.

Steller's sea eagle Nikita, who has an 8ft (2.4m) wingspan, went missing on 25 January from her home in Settle.

Trainer Chris O'Donnell said she was eventually tracked down at Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, after what he described as an "epic" journey.

He said the eagle was a bit dirty but was unharmed, and was now back in her normal enclosure.

"She is happy, healthy and has had a really good feed, and I am sure she will be much happier waking up in her own environment," Mr O'Donnell said.

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