THE search for a missing hen harrier has been called off after the bird’s satellite transmitter resumed transmissions.

Natural England released five young hen harriers in the summer and was tracking their locations using the tags.

Police issued appeals after no signal was picked up from the tags on three of the birds. Two of the birds were in Wensleydale when the signal was lost.

However, Natural England said signals were now being picked up again from one of the birds which was last known to be in the Dales. The bird which has reappeared is a young female which was reported missing after its signal was lost while it was on Thornton Rust Moor.

Gamekeepers on grouse moors in the region have been blamed by conservationists for killing the protected raptors. The update, however, has prompted moorland managers to further question the reliability of the technology used to track the birds.

The Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group, said: “Great news – one of the reported missing sat tagged hen harriers from the dales is now confirmed to be safe and well."

Natural England said it was still concerned about the other two hen harriers.