Police appeal after buzzard shot in North Yorkshire Moors

The buzzard can have a wingspan of up to 120cm (stock image)

A buzzard has been illegally shot and killed in the North York Moors National Park, police have said.

The protected bird of prey was attacked near Laskill, Bilsdale, on 4 April.

Buzzards and all other birds of prey are legally protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act - to intentionally kill or harm one can result in up to six months in jail.

North Yorkshire Police asked anyone who saw any "suspicious people or vehicles" in the area to come forward.

Buzzards, which can have a wingspan of up to 47in (120cm) and weigh up to 2.2lbs (1kg), mainly live in woodland, farmland and moorland, according to the Woodland Trust.

The shooting of the buzzard happened about two weeks after a sparrowhawk was shot and killed at a North Yorkshire nature reserve.

North Yorkshire Police said the creature was was targeted with a pellet gun on either 20 or 21 March at Nosterfield Nature Reserve.

The death of the sparrowhawk followed other raptor killings in North Yorkshire in the preceding 12 months.

These included three red kites being shot near Westerdale and a buzzard being killed in Rosedale, both in the North York Moors National Park.