Notice I said reported, not prosecuted, the laws are pretty dire in that regard.
I agree entirely!
They should be the rule, not the exception.
No made for my mothers 80th birthday.
I stand corrected. I do still think though that there is a larger picture to be looked at. Trapping through vile, cruel methods should be stopped. Think for one minute about all the birds of prey who were native and would have preyed naturally on corvids who were persecuted to extinction nationally in some cases that are now being reintroduced.
It's not nature as our meare presence effects the numbers of corvids, they they est our rubbish till it runs out. Predator species need controlling to allow other species to exist. We exist too and as I say that effects nature, if our numbers fell dramatically to a level that meant we didn't have to grow food but could exist of what we could catch and harvest leaving nature to level out may be an option ut that's not going to happen
So we wait till all the others birds are extinct, all the waters are empty then the predators die out and then what?
I wonder if other ways to control them are legal, options are finally limited here.
In the old days they just shot the crows .. now other means must be used - also hill farmers are generally more likely to lamb outside so natural wastage is high…
But it isn't regardless of those arguments: the only justification for using Larsen traps is the need to protect other vulnerable species or stock. There are no other practical, legal methods of Corvid control other than the gun, which has its own limitations.
This is interesting to me, as I haven’t seen any magpies for a while, in my garden or neighbourhood, and they were extremely numerous. Fewer crows as well, also fewer squirrels. And we now have a population of goshawks in the New Forest, I understand about 40 breeding pairs. Is there a connection I wonder.
Liked as I agree with what you did!
).We've had this in our garden and would also chase them away if we saw, but they'll just go back when you're not there. I do sometimes have to remind myself that for a population to remain stable, the parent birds only have to raise two chicks to adulthood/reproductive age over their breeding lifetime.
www.gwct.org.uk
Due to the intelligent nature of corvids, birds in some areas will go in for food and others will not, call birds only work for a short period if the year when birds are re establishing territories and a catch rate can be high at this time with a stranger in the camp so to speak.I've been folliwing this thread with interest. I don't like the use of Larsen traps as any wild creature stuck in a trap will go through endless suffering and psychological stress as a result of capture but I also appreciate the reasons why it is used.
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I've found this info sheet from the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust regarding Larsen traps and stating that there must be adequate shelter. "The licences allowing use of Larsens specify that you must provide adequate food, water at all times, appropriate shelter, and a perch."
Also interesting thst Larsen traps work well with bait alone (as a way of capturing your call bird) So if that's the case why the need for a calling bird in the first place?
Also states traps must be checked at least every 24 hrs and trapped birds despatched that evening is preferable as they cannot be left until morning without food/water/perch. Birds shouldn't be despatched in sight of each other either.
I suppose it's great having this guidance, but I would have thought that it would be lost in weak dissemination and many people buying/borrowing a larson trap won't know of the legislation or guidance.
Larsen Traps | Use in England, Scotland & Wales - Free Guide - Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust
Read our guide for using Larsen Traps in England, Scotland and Wales and also download a free copy.
Many people, including us will use eggs as bait and any trapped birds can be killed quickly. Call birds might be used where bait won't work but you still have nuisance birds. They can and should also be killed asap. We check our trap more than twice daily. We trap and kill probably less than 4 magpies a year - if that, but understanding that only some birds will develop nuisance habits helps to explain this. We are not reducing the wider population at all but only removing the birds, in our situation, that are attacking lambs or clearly hunting and attacking ground nesting birds on the nesting areas we are aware of. Shade, water, a perch, regular checks and a decent size trap are the only way to do this reasonably ethically.I've been folliwing this thread with interest. I don't like the use of Larsen traps as any wild creature stuck in a trap will go through endless suffering and psychological stress as a result of capture but I also appreciate the reasons why it is used.
.
I've found this info sheet from the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust regarding Larsen traps and stating that there must be adequate shelter. "The licences allowing use of Larsens specify that you must provide adequate food, water at all times, appropriate shelter, and a perch."
Also interesting thst Larsen traps work well with bait alone (as a way of capturing your call bird) So if that's the case why the need for a calling bird in the first place?
Also states traps must be checked at least every 24 hrs and trapped birds despatched that evening is preferable as they cannot be left until morning without food/water/perch. Birds shouldn't be despatched in sight of each other either.
I suppose it's great having this guidance, but I would have thought that it would be lost in weak dissemination and many people buying/borrowing a larson trap won't know of the legislation or guidance.
Larsen Traps | Use in England, Scotland & Wales - Free Guide - Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust
Read our guide for using Larsen Traps in England, Scotland and Wales and also download a free copy.
Thankfully snares are now banned in Scotland. I hope England follow suit. (And I say this as the wife of a shepherd). Snares are beyond cruel imo.
Yes, snares are vile things. I have found some ancient rusting ones here but they haven't been used in decades on this farm.
If lions and their prey existed in the same comparable percentages to corvids and their prey you probably would see their numbers controlled in one way or another.