RSPCA calls for cruelty to wild animals to stop on Yorkshire Coast
A campaign is underway to stamp out cruelty to wild animals
The RSPCA is calling for cruelty to wild animals to be stamped out on the Yorkshire Coast.
It is part of the charity's 'Cancel Out Cruelty' campaign as it releases new figures for the country.
It says they received 15 calls across North Yorkshire in 2020 relating to people deliberately hurting things like swans and hedgehogs. In the East Riding, it was five.
Nationally though, its data showed that wild mammals and birds bore the brunt of the abuse across a five-year period from 2016 to 2020. The number of cruelty incidents relating to wild mammals totalled 4,383, with wild birds persecuted in even greater numbers, at 5,049. The figures also reveal that deliberate cruelty to wildlife is its highest during the summer months. Last year (2020), 376 wild animals were reported to have been intentionally harmed across the lockdown months of June to August alone.
RSPCA Head of Wildlife Adam Grogan said: “We say we’re a nation of animal-lovers and yet every year, we see wild animals in our wildlife centres and animal hospitals that have been badly injured or killed by being beaten, mutilated, poisoned, or shot for ‘fun’.
“Our data shows that reports of cruelty to wildlife surged over last summer. Police forces reported a rise in anti-social behaviour during that first lockdown, when pressures and frustrations may have led to more of this type of crime, leading to some seeking ‘entertainment’ through these sorts of barbaric incidents involving wildlife.”
Adam added: “There is no place for cruelty to animals in today’s society and we urge anyone who spots anything suspicious when out and about or sees anything online to report it to either the RSPCA’s cruelty line on 0300 1234 999, Crimestoppers or their local police force.”
Across a five year period (2016-2020), RSPCA data shows that foxes were by far the most persecuted wild mammal, with a total of 2,299 reports of intentional harm, followed by deer (500), badgers (497), rabbits (388) and hedgehogs (331). Pigeons were the bird most likely to be harmed intentionally with 1,518 cruelty reports received, followed by swans (700), gulls (648), ducks (395) and geese (336).