I am looking for help and advice about trapping magpies.
I am aware of someone who traps magpies in their garden for no other reason except they say they kill other birds that come in to the garden. I am not sure what traps are used but what has been described to me sounds like there is a small snare in a cage. The birds are left for hours in the sun, by the time the birds are taken out of the cage, they are battered and bleeding from trying to escape and some are half dead. I do not know for sure what happens to the birds when they are taken out of the cage, I have been told they are taken miles away and released again but I honestly dont think that is true.
This is a person who, last year tried to find someone to shoot the buzzards that fly over her garden, luckily no one would. The law dosnt seem to matter to this person.
I have emailed RSPCA and the league against cruel sports but I have not heard anything back.
4paws said:I am aware of someone who traps magpies in their garden for no other reason except they say they kill other birds that come in to the garden. I am not sure what traps are used but what has been described to me sounds like there is a small snare in a cage.
This practice is illegal under the terms of The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Although it might be possible for some landowners to get special licences to trap corvids, no-one can trap Magpies in their own garden and treat them in this despicable way.
If I was you I would phone the local RSPCA and the non-emergency number for the Police in your area and report this, as it is a criminal offence.
Best wishes Chris
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The general licence to control Magpies doesn't provide carte blanche for any Tom, Dick or Harriet to take it upon themselves to "disappear" them on a whim. Magpies may be killed or taken subject to quite explicit conditions regarding the reason for control measures being deemed necessary, and having considered and rejected non-lethal means of control.
The situation as described warrants a chat with the local Police Wildlife Crime specialist.
JBNTS
Every day a little more irate about bird of prey persecution, and I have a cat - Got a problem with that?
I would cetainly contact the authorities.
This time of year they will be feeding their young so killing more than the ones captured
Ray
a good laugh is better than a tonic
Can I support John B in his comments. Trapping magpies does not need a special licence as it is covered under a general licence but the criteria for doing so is unlikely to be met in the circumstances you describe.
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I also support the others in their comments. This is cruelty beyond question. You must contact your police and demand to speak to their Wildlife Officer.
Cheers, Linda.
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Wildlife crime officer, this really doesn't sound legal.
It's both what you do and the way that you do it!
You cannot fly like an eagle with the wings of a wren. William Henry Hudson (1841 - 1922)
Agree with all the above as for trying to ge someone to shoot Buzzards for flying over her garden? Who on earth does she think she is!
She needs stopping as this kind of behaviour will only continue!
H
Magpies eat the eggs and kill the young of other birds, including garden and song birds; therefore bird-lovers sometimes like to give song birds a better chance, particularly in spring time when they are trying to raise their young, by capturing and destroying magpies. Larsen traps such as the one you've described are effective for this purpose. It may seem cruel or barbaric to the uninitiated but the practice should be encouraged by anyone who appreciates song birds, which are in decline
Think posters need to be wary,something sounds odd here.For instance these type of traps need a bird kept in really good condition to keep being used whereas 4paws says these birds are battered and bleeding half dead also Buzzards would mostly be too high to be easily shot and imagine the uproar of a 12 bore going off in someones garden.
Sounds really suspicious to me.
Sooty, This is a very old post (2011) that someone has brought back to life presumably to make their own point similar to Songbird Survival.