A horrified dog owner found dead crows nailed to a tree during an autumn walk.
The woman, who did not want to be named, thought the "disturbing" act could have been used as a method to scare birds away from crops by farmers.
The two dead animals were found in fields near Sevenoaks, Kent.
The woman, who was walking her dogs when she made the find told KentLive : [They were] discovered in the fields behind my house between Pilgrims Lane and Clacket Lane.
"I was walking the dogs and one had run over to some bushes. I looked up and was shocked but then realised it could be something to do with farmers, as pheasants are often around the crop fields."
A gruesome photo was taken by the woman and shows two mutilated creatures attached to a tree trunk several feet above the ground.
According to farming news website Agriland, a dead crow hanging in the vicinity of a farm triggers fear in other crows causing them to take longer to approach food.
A study in the journal of Animal Behaviour found 38% of crows remain wary of the place or the person associated with death of another crow for six weeks.
This can deter them from damaging crop for fear of the same fate happening to them.
It seems to be a fairly outdated practice and most farmers choosing to opt for more humane methods, such as scarecrows, helium balloons and kites to ward off unwanted visitors.
Residents were unimpressed with the practice KentLive reports that some people described it as "barbaric".
In response to the dog walker's post about the incident, one person posted: "I'm sure there are many other ways they could do that without nailing a crow up a tree.
"There's no justification for cruelty to animals."
Another person added: "What the hell...absolutely horrific! Where was it so I can avoid, I would hate for my son to see it on a walk."
A third person even suggested the dog walker report the incident to Folly Wildlife Centre and the RSPCA.
Some people, however, agreed with the methods and one person said: "I don't see it as being any different to farmers using pesticides or getting the ferrets in to get the rabbits out.
"Farm life is different from ours and farmers have a right to protect their crops."
