AN appeal has been made for information after a Red Kite was found to have been deliberately poisoned.

The female bird was found by the roadside bleeding from the mouth at Scampston in April.

She was taken to local wildlife expert Jean Thorpe, who lives in Norton.

However, despite everyone's best efforts the Red Kite died overnight.

Jean said: "The Covid-19 lockdown prevented the carcass from being picked up by the The Wildlife Incident Unit (WIIS) delaying the now known outcome.

"The recent result shows that the bird was poisoned with a mix of brodifacoum and bendiocarb in quantities that would not be consistent with an accidental incident.

Jean said: "Toxicology testing takes time and I'm forever grateful to WIIS for providing this expert service proving yet again that our protected birds of prey are targeted deliberately.

"It makes me so angry and sad that this is an ongoing serious problem in Ryedale and North Yorkshire.

If anyone knows anything or sees anything like rabbit or bird carcasses laid out or finds dead birds of prey, then do get in touch with the police and report, report, report. "

Anyone with more information on the Red Kite should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 12200055801, or PC Jez Walmsley WCO at Malton Police Station.