27th February 2025
The RSPCA has launched an investigation and is appealing for information after the bodies of six foxes were found in seperate locations in Greater Manchester.
The national animal welfare charity says it believes the foxes were killed by illegal hunting with dogs.
Their bodies were found in seperate areas.
Two of the foxes were found at Baileys Wood in Blackley, near Boggart Hole Clough in north Manchester, on February 10, with a further four discovered at a site in Radcliffe, near Bury, on February 14.
The RSPCA was contacted after the second find. The charity says it is investigating and called the organised hunting of wild animals using dogs ‘a growing problem’ nationally.
A spokesperson said: “The discovery of six foxes dumped in two separate locations in Greater Manchester has triggered an appeal for information from the RSPCA.
“The charity fears the animals may have been killed under suspicious circumstances.”
RSPCA Inspector Deborah Beats said: “We fear that these poor foxes were deliberately killed – possibly using dogs
“Sadly, the persecution of wildlife and the organised hunting of wild animals using dogs is a growing problem – and certainly this is something we cannot rule out here. Hunting with dogs is illegal and so we are appealing for anyone with firsthand information about these foxes to get in touch with our appeal line on 0300 123 8018, quoting reference numbers 1450712 and 1450752.”
The RSPCA said both it and other agencies were ‘dealing with worrying amounts of wildlife crime’.
A sick craze involving images of killings being posted online has been referenced.
Insp Beats added: “We’re dealing with a number of cases of individuals and gangs going out into the countryside and killing everything in their path, sometimes even filming it and posting the shocking content on social media to brag and boast about their kills.”
These people are the scum of the earth and need to be caught and dealt with in a proper vile way that is what they deserve. I have forwarded lots of these to my mp and I shall be forwarding this as well as it is time this government got their act together to stop these parasites from murdering the innocent, and yes this is MURDER and should be treated as such I personally cannot see what the difference is if some bastard murders a child or an animal they should be treatedn the same as it is all unnecessary killing of these foxes etc etc and against the law.