Police are urging anyone who sees acts of animal cruelty to contact them after reports of youths attacking squirrels in York.
Officers have clarified the law after teenagers were said to have killed the animals near York’s Museum Gardens.
In a post on Facebook, a resident wrote: “Can parents please supervise their children?
“There were teenage boys, younger than 15, down on the riverside near Museum Gardens shooting squirrels down with slingshots loaded with rocks and then stomping on them once they hit the ground!”
It was alleged to have happened yesterday afternoon (Sunday).
Another eye-witness said some youngsters were asked to leave Museum Gardens “for shooting things at the pigeons” that same afternoon.
The incidents sparked a discussion online about when it is legal or not to kill wildlife.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson told YorkMix: “Wildlife law is complex, and it can be hard to know when something constitutes a crime and whether, or when, to involve the police.
“While grey squirrels are not a protected species, causing unnecessary suffering to any mammal, including grey squirrels, is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
“Using a slingshot to intentionally injure or kill an animal could be considered an offence if it results in unnecessary suffering.
“If you suspect a wildlife crime is being committed, please report it online. We would rather hear from you and investigate than miss an opportunity to protect wildlife.
“You can also report wildlife crime anonymously through Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.
“For more information on what constitutes wildlife crime and when to report it, visit our Wildlife Crime page on our website.”