Threatened bird of prey found with eight gunshot wounds in Portland, police investigating

The female bird, a Grey Goshawk white morph, was found suffering on Heath Road near the intersection of Portland-Nelson Road near Cashmore on February 15.

An x-ray showed the bird had eight shotgun pellets lodged in her wing, leg and body and was euthanised last week, despite two weeks of rehabilitation efforts.

The Grey Goshawk, which is a medium-sized bird of prey, is not commonly seen in the wild and is listed as threatened in Victoria.

Chief Conservation Regulator Kate Gavens said hunting, taking and destroying threatened wildlife is a serious offence.

"All wildlife in Victoria is protected and it is illegal to kill or harm our native species," she said.

"The Conservation Regulator takes this matter very seriously and is investigating."

Under the Wildlife Act 1975 the penalty associated with hunting, taking and destroying threatened wildlife is up to a maximum of $38,562 and/or 24 months imprisonment.

The Regulator is calling on the community to help with any further information that could assist the investigation and is urging anyone with information to report it to Crime Stoppers.

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