The satellite-tagged three-month-old hen harrier disappeared after its harness was found deliberately severed on Ruabon Moor near Wrexham, an area the RSPB calls a "Bermuda Triangle" for missing birds of prey. Forensic examination indicates the harness was cut; investigators suspect illegal killing and that the tag and body were discarded separately. Between 2018 and 2026 the RSPB recorded multiple suspected persecution incidents and has handed evidence to Natural Resources Wales while urging stricter regulation of grouse shooting.
Satellite-Tagged Hen Harrier Vanishes After Harness Deliberately Cut on Ruabon Moor
A forensic investigation showed the bird's harness had been "intentionally severed", says rural crime officer Sgt Peter Evans [Getty Images]
A rare, satellite-tagged hen harrier vanished after its tracking tag and a deliberately severed harness were found on Ruabon Moor, a Welsh moorland near Wrexham that the RSPB has nicknamed a "Bermuda Triangle" for missing birds of prey.
The three-month-old bird fledged from a nest on National Trust land in the Peak District National Park and was fitted with an RSPB satellite tag before moving to the protected Welsh moorland, an area managed for red grouse. Local conservationists say the site has seen multiple suspected incidents of persecution involving tagged hen harriers.
Sgt Peter Evans of North Wales Police said a forensic examination showed the harness in the latest incident had been "intentionally severed." Investigators have treated the disappearance as suspicious, but inquiries so far remain inconclusive.
Mark Thomas, RSPB Head of Investigations: "A healthy young bird fledged from a safe area in the Peak District and, sadly, chose to settle in Wales' 'Bermuda Triangle' — the most notorious bird-of-prey persecution hotspot in the country. We suspect the harrier was shot, its harness removed and the tag and body discarded in separate locations to avoid detection."
The RSPB reports multiple related incidents between 2018 and 2026: three tags were recovered from five hen harriers suspected to have been persecuted; satellite tags on two other birds suddenly stopped transmitting without signs of malfunction; data from another tag suggested interference prior to death; and two birds were found with harness damage consistent with human involvement.
Julian Hughes, RSPB Cymru head of species, said the charity has provided a dossier of evidence to the environmental regulator Natural Resources Wales and renewed calls for tighter regulation of the grouse-shooting industry. The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), which represents sustainable grouse-shooting interests and is based in Wrexham, has previously stated it operates a "zero-tolerance" policy on illegal killing of birds of prey.
All wild birds are protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and prosecutions for killing or damaging protected species can lead to fines or imprisonment. Police and conservation groups continue to appeal for information from the public about any suspicious activity on Ruabon Moor.
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