Found a dead barn owl - should I report it somewhere

[ImaHogg]

My son and his friend have found a dead barn owl in a woods opposite to where we live.
In the 45 years I have lived in the countryside thankfully I have never seen a dead one. Ds’s friend seems to think the poor thing has been shot!
We have also had a few cases of avian flu in the area.
Do you think I should report it? And where would I go?

There is a Barn Owl Trust and they have a website, you could contact them

Thank you, I'll do that.

RSPB Investigations deal with dead or injured birds of prey or schedule 1 birds (includes barb owls) in suspicious circumstances. There is an online reporting form via their website or you can call: 01767 680551. May be an idea to take photos.

@slidingdrawers

RSPB Investigations deal with dead or injured birds of prey or schedule 1 birds (includes barb owls) in suspicious circumstances. There is an online reporting form via their website or you can call: 01767 680551. May be an idea to take photos.

Thanks, I’ve taken some photos. I’ll contact them.

If you really think it has been shot your local police should have a wildlife officer.

If you're anywhere near Cheshire, post on Facebook indicate that one has escaped?

When I worked in a rural post office someone posted the body to the relevant trust as that's what you are - or were - meant to do

Would be worth putting the body in a plastic bag in the fridge or a cool bag with ice packs or similar too

If it's been shot you should certainly report it, likewise if it is ringed.

If not then I would just leave it. Unfortunately that's the way of life!

My local council posted this info last week ‘If you find dead wild waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks) or other dead wild birds, such as gulls or birds of prey, you should report them to the Defra helpline 03459 33 55 77’

Report it to Dr Hoo

@weshallneversurrender wondering if you're from the same part of Cheshire as me now as I was just about to say the same thing.

Yes please report to Defra on that number above, and if its not too late don't touch it
Avian flu can pass from bird to human.

Yes, we had a red kite brought to us (vets), it was on deaths door and needed to be pts. It had been shot when we xrayed it. We kept it in freezer and contacted police/rspca. It was taken as evidence by rural crime unit... was part of evidence which led to a prosecution.

RSPB.

I used to regularly find dead/half alive buzzards and red kites in the fields around my house (suspiciously next to game pens). I used to take them to Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital. They’d determine the cause of death and then notify the police. Unfortunately they could never charge the shoot because nobody saw them do it.