A BUZZARD which was badly injured after it was shot and trapped in a cage has been released back into the wild.

The adult bird was found on Tuesday, May 9, in Beverley Road, Norton, and taken to Jean Thorpe, who rescues and rehabilitates injured wildlife.

Jean said: “The adult female breeding buzzard was found shocked and injured. She has multiple lacerations to the top of her head and both feet.

“She has been in a cage trap very local to where she was found and had a shotgun pellet lodged in her leg.”

Jean said medical and surgical treatment was carried out by vet Mark Naguib at Battle Flatts Veterinary Clinic.

“The knuckling foot was a big worry as we could not have released her as it was,” she added.

“Mark operated to try and remove the shotgun pellet but thought it best to leave it as the tendon would have been compromised, so I did some physiotherapy stretching the talons and thankfully she came right.”

“She was released by Mark and flew wonderfully well, and away on the gallops at Norton,” Jean added.

“We just hope she will be left alone now."

Last month a buzzard was found by a dog walker dead in a field near East Luttons, while a second buzzard was discovered at the top of Sutton Bank with a shot gun pellet in the liver and one to the skull.

Jean said: “It makes me angry and sad that these beautiful native birds of prey are killed to protect the non-native game birds. This has gone on far too long.”

“This is the reality of shooting interests and their interaction with native birds of prey here in North Yorkshire. We need to shout long and hard and shame those responsible.”

Anyone with further information should contact Jean on 01653 695124 or PC Jez Walmsley, wildlife crime officer at Malton Police Station, on 101, quoting NYP 47 10.5.17.