Youths have been throwing stones at seals, kicking waterfowl and firing ball bearings at wild birds, says a rescue charity. In one horrific incident someone saw a Canada Goose being kicked down an embankment at Hailsham Common Pond while another goose was shot and killed with a ball-bearing from a catapult at Hailsham Country Park. East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) said it has been alerted to many cases of animals being injured and abused by youngsters.
It is now urging people to report any such incidents. Over the past weeks, the charity has received reports of youths throwing stones at wildlife, kicking waterfowl and firing ball bearings at wild birds. READ MORE: Drusillas' new £500k monkey habitat now complete There were also reports of young people throwing stones at seals on beaches around Seaford and Eastbourne.
The charity said it dealt with more than 25 incidents involving youngsters using catapults along the Cuckoo Trail between Polegate and Horam. A woodpigeon was rescued after being wounded with a ball bearing lodged into its chest, and a duck was injured near Ringmer Recreation Ground in a catapult incident. There have also been incidents of young people using air guns.
A fox in Hailsham was shot in the face with an air rifle and died a few weeks later with an infection. Trevor Weeks, founder and operations director of East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service, said: "On Monday I rushed down to Hailsham Country Park after reports of.
