Snaring of Crows in Lincolnshire

Bryn,  You may not like the answer but the trapping of crows in a larsen trap (the type of trap you describe) is legal.   There are rules about why you taking them (damage, public health etc) and there are rules about how you treat the decoy bird that attracts them in.    The problem with the traps is when they used illegally for taking birds of prey.      I would always urge birders not to interfere with larsen traps as the landowner could then use that as an excuse to resort to poisoning.

Hi Bryn and welcome to the RSPB Community.

Possibly connected or possibly not is that an "experimental" cull of Corvid species has been commissioned by an organisation called "Songbird Survival". Most serious birders I know give this organisation a wide berth for a number of reasons, and I do too.

Larsen traps set by authorised persons represents a currently lawful way of capturing Corvid species for subsequent dispatch.  

JBNTS

The Larsen Trap as you describe is legal if used according to the law,I believe yhis includes the regular visiting of the trap to check on the welfare of the decoy birds.They are mainly used on land managed for shooting where it is claimed corvids take eggs and chicks of game birds,the trapped birds are supposed to be despatched humanely.

Hi Bryn and welcome to the RSPB Forum.  Enjoy yourself here

This is not the first time I have heard about these traps, and not the last either.

I hate anything related to Larson traps, and to hear of the situation with the killing of the Crows is plainly done, and created by ignorant people who have little or no thought for wildlife and the eco system.

What worries me is that the trap has no friends...... and I am sure that more than Crows will be caught in them while they lay about the countryside.

This will be a contentious debate, and will upset people who love wild birds because of the 'killing' of Corvids being in the lastest news now

What next!

Regards

Kathy and Dave

I've looked up Larsen Traps and found a website that, although obviously biased against, gives us some sobering facts. They look reprehensible!!!

Pipit

http://www.againstcorvidtraps.co.uk/larsen_traps/

Bryn O said:

Surely this cannot be right..... the birds don't appear to have any perching facilities, food or water.  The cage is situated in the corner of a field in full public view, adjacent to a public footpath & road.  I didn't think it was legal to capture them in this manner - the distress caused to them is not pleasant.  It is hard to believe that you are expected to turn a blind eye to this....

Bryn,  I hope the below helps.  It is taken from a site that sells Larsen traps but is an accurate appraisal of the law.

General licence is issued by authorities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to allow the larsen trap to be used for the control of: Crows, Magpies, Rooks, Jackdaws and Jays.  All Larsen trapping operations carried out under the general license must have a reasonable purpose. Simply hating Crows or magpies is not a valid reason. Protecting livestock or protecting crops is a valid reason.

The General Licence states that welfare requirements of the decoy must be taken into account. Decoy birds must be provided with food, water, shelter and a perch. As with all traps the Larsen must be checked at least once a day. The best times to check are one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset. Be aware that some traps can be filled with trapped birds many times a day, so keep checking during the day.

The Larsen trap is governed by a general licence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Captured birds provided they fall within the legal quarry list may be dispatched by an approved method. Any non target species must be released immediately!!

There is no set size to decoy cages.

When not in use Larsen traps MUST be rendered incapable of catching, i.e. no bird can push the trap door open and become caught as a result. Top opening traps can be turned upside down or have the door springs unhooked. Best practice is to store your traps when you have finished your trapping season.

General Licences:

General licences are issued by government agencies to provide a legal basis for people to carry out a range of activities relating to wildlife. By definition you do not need to apply for general licences but you are required by law to abide by their terms and conditions.

Bryn,if you,like most of us here are not happy with the trap I suggest you contact your local police wildlife crimes officer,he/she will be able to check  out its legallity.I for one rate the things legal or not,in our area we have many shoots using these things and often when we have reported them to the authorities they have been removed but I do not think any legal cases ensued.

As Bob as pointed out it is legal if carried out correctly and mostly it is if only because of course the person using the trap wants to keep the bird in the trap healthy.Very surprised if people using these traps do not comply with the rules and obviously need reporting if they are abusing the rules. 

Straying sideways for a moment....

but questions on the decoy?

where do they come from in the first place?

Is the decoy also destroyed?

seams the decoys welfare is to be taken into account, but no mention of where sourced etc....

sounds like a murky backdoor exploit to me