Deer poaching, swan attacks and illegal tipping near newts - West Yorkshire Police's wildlife crime team has seen it all

"Two deer were found in the Keighley area, injuries consistent with being poached. Enquires ongoing."

These details are among the daily Facebook updates posted by West Yorkshire Police wildlife crime team, which responds to incidents across the county.

Incidents include deer poaching, badger baiting, the stealing of birds’ eggs, illegal fishing and shooting.

Around 75 per cent of cases are referred from animal welfare groups including the RSPCA, RSPB and Bat Conservation Trust. A growing number are reports directly from the public.

“People are gaining confidence in us, and are aware that we will tackle it,” said wildlife crime officer Shaun Taylor, citing a recent example of a call from within the Bradford district of a man carrying a spade spotted entering a wood with three terrier dogs.

“We searched the area to check whether badger setts had been disturbed, but on that occasion did not find anything."

In the year to August 2016, in the Bradford district, the team responded to 40 incidents following calls from the public, involving species including deer, foxes, rabbits and hares, ducks, geese and swans.

“It is a sad fact, but some people do it because they see it as fun,” said Mr Taylor.

“They will injure an animal and then set dogs on it. Badger baiters will dig up an animal, cripple it using a spade, and release their dogs onto it. That tends to be the worst form of cruelty.”

One of the most difficult parts of the officers’ job is watching footage of attacks filmed by the perpetrators.

“Some of it is horrific. I deal with it by thinking that we are using the footage to catch them. The more people see the reality and brutality of crimes against wildlife, the more they will want to talk to us," Mr Taylor said.

Earlier this year the RSPCA worked with West Yorkshire Police in a case resulting in prison sentences for four Bradford men who hunted and killed badgers in a horrific attack with dogs.

Deer poaching can result in contaminated meat reaching the food chain.

“With a legitimate hunter the animal will be shot cleanly, gutted, and checked for infections, but with dogs an animal will be chased, possibly bitten several times and may not be gutted straight away.

"It certainly will not be inspected," said Mr Tyalor.

“Poachers will sell to anyone who wants to buy.”

West Yorkshire is among areas of the UK where offences against swans, killed for meat, have increased.

“In East Leeds we have seen a 500 per cent rise in the past two years,” said Mr Taylor.

Killing or injuring a swan carries a fine or a jail term. In the year to August police responded to five incidents involving swans in the Bradford district.

More recently, in the area, the team was dealing with issues surrounding a threat to great crested newts due to illegal tipping.

This year the team worked with the Environment Agency and Angling Trust, carrying out spot checks on anglers for fishing licences.

"This was really successful - some anglers had been fishing for decades and told us that had never before been asked,” Mr Taylor said.

"Most did have licences, but seven people were caught without.”

Officers from the team also accompany animal welfare organisation on visits to households where allegations of animal neglect or abuse have been made.

They also deal with cases involving people bringing creatures into the UK illegally.

“We have cases varying from the selling of ivory to the unlicensed breeding birds of prey,” Mr Taylor added.

Education is vital in the fight to deter youngsters from committing crimes against wildlife. To this end the team take part in events, visit schools, community centres and other venues.

“We will speak wherever we are invited - schools, scout groups, youth groups or older people’s groups.

"We take part in the Countryside Live event, which is attended over two days by more than 2,500 children from across the Yorkshire region. We set up a crime scene for them to investigate. If we get the education right, hopefully the number of such crimes will lessen," Mr Taylor said.

“And, of course, we use social media, such as Facebook, to get messages across."

The latest posting reads: "In the last 24 hours there have been 38 incidents involving animals across the force area. Officers attended an incident in the Batley area where they assisted the RSPCA to seize a horse, sadly the animal had to be put to sleep. The RSPCA are investigating the circumstances."

Mr Taylor added: “We are here to respond and encourage the public to get in ouch if they see anything that raises suspicions.”

To report incidents ring West Yorkshire Police on 101 or, if necessary, 999.