A man was reported to have left the grounds of Cragside, near Rothbury, with a bird identified as a young raptor wrapped in a jacket
A raptor chick was reportedly taken from the grounds of Cragside(Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle)
Residents of a rural Northumberland town have reacted with concern as police investigate the reported theft of a raptor chick from a National Trust estate. A witness, who has asked to remain anonymous, told ChronicleLive they had seen a “gentleman with a raptor wrapped in his jacket” walking out of the Cragside Estate near the Debdon Car Park last Wednesday afternoon.
Northumbria Police are now investigating the report, with the incident thought to have occurred between 4.15pm and 4.45pm. The witness said: “At first I didn’t think anything of it, but then I thought hang on, I’ve seen a bloke leaving Cragside with a baby chick.”
Captive Schedule 4 birds, such as honey buzzards, peregrine falcons, Golden eagles and ospreys must be microchipped and registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency. Licences are also required for members of the public to handle or look after wild birds.
It is not known what breed of raptor may have been taken from Cragside, but the witness described it as “quite a considerable size”, noting that it was large and white and had not developed feathers. ChronicleLive understands that none of the veterinary practices near Cragside have not admitted any raptor chicks since Wednesday.
Rothbury councillor Steven Bridgett said that the alleged incident was “worrying”. He said: “It worries me a little bit now we have Golden eagles coming back to Coquetdale, I don’t want us to be a Mecca for people to take young birds of prey.”
A National Trust spokesperson said: “We understand this incident is being dealt with by the police, so we won’t be making any comments whilst they investigate.”
A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: “We received a report that sometime between 4.15pm and 4.45pm on Wednesday, June 11, a bird was taken from the Cragside Estate area of Northumberland. Enquiries are ongoing into the offence and anyone with information, including anyone who was in the area of Cragside Estate between 4pm and 5pm on June 11, should send us a direct message on social media or use the live chat or report forms on our force website.
“For anyone unable to contact us via those ways, call 101. Please quote reference NP-20250616-0611.”
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