ANIMAL welfare inspectors fear a wildlife serial killer could be at work after three slaughtered foxes were found dumped yards from where seven other animals were left butchered over New Year.

A dog walker made the shocking discovery near Chepstow Garden Centre in Pwllmeyric on Wednesday, February 20, and contacted police who enlisted the support of RSPCA Cymru.

An urgent appeal for information has now been launched in a bid to track down the perpetrators, amid fears that someone is carrying out a ‘killing spree’ against wild animals.

The three foxes – two male and one female – were found with their abdomens slit open just one field away from a separate pile of dead wild animals dumped seven weeks earlier.

RSPCA officers say the circumstances of the fox deaths appear “very suspicious”, with severe damage visible to the abdomens.

The other pile of dead wild animals – including a decapitated deer – were also found nearby at Hayesgate on New Year’s Day.

RSPCA animal welfare officer Sian Burton said of the latest incident off the A48: “This was a shocking discovery – with the three fox bodies laid out, and their abdomens seemingly very carefully cut open.

“The circumstances are very suspicious, and anyone with information is urged to contact us on 0300 123 8018.

“Worryingly, this discovery comes weeks after a decapitated deer, a deer’s severed head, two Canada geese, two mallard ducks and an unidentified bird of prey were found dead at a nearby site.

“It seems very possible the incidents are linked – given the nature of both discoveries.”

Officers previously described the scene of the decapitated deer and other dead animals as like a “horror film”.

Shockingly, the decapitated deer and its severed head were found with a separate deer skin and rib cage.

Both locations are minutes away from the A48, and investigators said it seemed “very likely” that the animals have been dumped from a vehicle after being poached, or killed for sport or entertainment.

A spokeswoman at the time said: “This site at Hayesgate was like a horror film, with a pile of dead wild animal bodies and body parts strewn across the floor.

“A deer carcass, removed deer head, separate deer skin and rib cage have all been found – as have two Canada geese, two mallard ducks and what I believe to be a bird of prey. It was so sad to witness this pile of dead bodies.

“It seems very likely that someone has gone on a killing spree, and taken the lives of these animals for so-called sport or entertainment, and dumped them here.”