Natural England said that the area where Harold was last located was searched by police several times and nothing was found. The investigation remains ongoing.

A spokesperson for Natural England said: ““Raptor persecution, including of hen harriers, is a national wildlife crime priority and there are strong penalties in place for offences committed against birds of prey. We would urge anyone witnessing or suspecting persecution to contact the police. While 2020 saw encouraging signs that hen harrier breeding success is increasing in the English uplands, they remain critically endangered in England and persecution is the main factor in why so many birds don’t reach adulthood. We are a committed partner to the Hen Harrier Action Plan to improve the conservation status of this iconic species.”

Source: Yorkshire Post

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