Owl found hanging and left for dead next to dirty mattress and empty cans of beer

An RSPCA inspector says: 'It is completely barbaric to do something like this to our wildlife'

The owl was tied to the branch by a piece of yellow string (RSPCA)

A tawny owl has been found hanging from a tree by a piece of string and left for dead, next to a “dirty mattress and numerous empty cans of alcohol”.

The dying bird was discovered by two members of the public hanging from an eight-foot-high branch in woodland known as The Rough, in Arbury Park Estate, Nuneaton.

The owl was tied by its left wing to the branch with a piece of yellow string wrapped so tightly around its feathers its rescuers were forced to cut them off.

A set of keys were also found attached to the string on an “English Lakes” key ring.

The owl is under observation at Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre, Cheshire RSPCA (RSPCA)

The owl was taken to Newbrook Animal Hospital in Birmingham, where he was given pain relief and fluids. He is currently under close observation at Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Cheshire.

RSPCA inspector Louise Labram, who attended the incident, said the owl was extremely thin, suggesting he had either been hanging there for several days, or was already in a weak state and easy for someone to catch and tie up.

The incident is believed to have been intentional and “a dirty mattress and numerous empty cans of alcohol near to where the owl was found” made it “clear people had been there”, according to Ms Labram.

“It is completely barbaric to do something like this to our wildlife," said Ms Labram, "The owl was clearly left for dead."

“He was extremely lucky to have been found by the members of the public in what is a remote part of the woodland," she added.

“There are no set tracks and so it would be highly unlikely that people would pass by regularly.”

The RSPCA have launched an appeal for information about the incident, which they understand to be an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and also the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Anyone with any information is urged to call the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018.