Dozens of butchered geese found by the side of the road at Wisbech
Nearly 40 geese were found at the side of the road at Wisbech having been shot and butchered in the run up to Christmas.
West Norfolk Council have issued an urgent appeal for information following the discovery and said it suspected a link with Christmas.
Around 250,000 geese are eaten every Christmas across Britain and with the average bird feeding six people according to the British Poultry Council.
39 pink-footed geese were also discovered with their breasts removed on December 7 in Wisbech.
31 greylag geese were found on December 15 with strings around their necks and their breasts removed in Terrington St Clement, Norfolk.
Both groups were shot and left dumped at the side of roads.
Cllr Sandra Squire, cabinet member for environment and coastal, said: “These birds have clearly been killed for their meat but there has been no oversight of their slaughter and no assurance that they have not experienced undue suffering.
“They have then been butchered but there has been no oversight of how the meat has been handled.
"These birds could be diseased and the butchering may have been done in unsanitary conditions, making it unsafe for humans to eat.
“As a final insult, they have been dumped at the side of the road, which is also illegal as fly-tipping, may attract vermin and creates a health hazard.
“If anyone has any information about this at all please get in touch to help us put a stop to this behaviour.”
A council spokesperson added it would be reasonable to suspect the discovery and butchering was linked to the Christmas period.