Police close to identifying youths attacking ducks

Police say they are close to identifying a a group of young people who have been targeting ducks with catapults.

Half a dozen attacks on ducks in Dorchester, Dorset, have been reported so far this year, with a number of ducks found injured and dead along the River Frome.

The spate of attacks led to locals establishing the Dorchester Duck Patrol in the spring, in the hopes of ending the attacks on wildlife.

In an update to town councillors this week, Dorset Police said it now had an image of four youngsters suspected of involvement.

Acting Sgt Tom Harness said the image appeared to show one of the young people carrying what looked to be a dead mallard.

He added that the force was appealing for any further images or doorbell footage to confirm the identity of those involved.

Warning: Some readers might find some of the photographs in this story upsetting.

Speaking at Monday evening's Dorchester Town Council meeting, Harness said the force was now close to identifying those involved, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"We just need a bit more evidence. It's a top priority for us to nip this in the bud," he said.

The offences were "red flags" he added, with evidence showing that animal abuse could lead to perpetrators going on to commit more serious crimes.

Gillian May, founder of the Dorchester Duck Patrol, previously called the culprits "mindless vandals".

"They are mostly catapulting," she explained. "I want to get the message out there that we are going to be fighting back against this."

May has called for CCTV to be installed along the River Frome, a suggestion also supported by the mayor of Dorchester, Les Fry.

This year is not the first that the safety of Dorchester's ducks has been called into question, with duck patrols also established in previous years.

In 2023 alone, 20 ducks were reportedly killed, with roosting pigeons also allegedly targeted.