Update on Larsen Trap

Birker2020

Birker2020

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Update - Hooray the magpie has 'gone' from the trap. Not sure where but presume killed, partner is unsure. Cage is now empty although I don't expect it has been tipped upside down to prevent anything else getting trapped in there.

Getting a bit of a frosty reception from partners brother but heh what do I care? I am glad the bird is not suffering any more and I have done my bit so I will not mention it to them again.

It caused a bit of upset between partner and me but partner said he spoke to brother who was told to get rid so I am glad partner took me seriously for once.

Thanks for all your comments, etc. I had made up my mind to release the magpie even if it meant it would mean I would never be made welcome around the house again but thank goodness it has been done for me. Hopefully we will all be able to get on with our lives and not have a repeat performance again.
 
applecart14 said:
.........
It caused a bit of upset between partner and me but partner said he spoke to brother who was told to get rid so I am glad partner took me seriously for once.

..........
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Just a question for you, how would you feel if I were to stop by a field of yours, one which contained your horses, and then because I felt that you were wrong in your practices, went and altered them? It could be head collars, rugs, the feed types which you were using, anything really.

Would you point out to me that you were acting within the law, considered that you were right in your actions, and then tell me to sod off? That's what I would have done.

It must be such a relief for you, for your partner to take you seriously, for once!

Alec.
 
Well done .
Alec if I remember the original post the trap was not legal there was no shelter and I suspect a licence!
If you find my horses shut in confined area without shelter and totally stressed out throughing them against the walls for reasons nothing to with their health please do let them out into the field! I will be grateful!
 
I couldn't bring myself to read the original post as I think those traps are vile things anyway (and lets face it man decimates far more birds and critters than any other species does!) but I did look at this one.

Well done you. I would have done the same thing and sod the consequences. I hate mankind sometimes.
 
Good for you, OP. I think they're vile things, too. I know someone who used to set one up with food, trap bird number 1, then the next chamber was to trap bird number 2, who would be put in with number 1, until the first (closed) chamber was full. She'd only then get somebody to shoot them. She thought this was perfectly fine, as they had water and food. Never mind that I had to see them every day, in clear distress. I'm afraid I did let them out on more than one occasion. I really don't see the point in trapping these birds just for the hell of it. She was attracting them with food, for God's sake! Their crime? They sometimes took food out of the chicken run. Our runs at home have netting over them to stop larger birds getting in. Very easy to do and a little more humane, I think!!

Alec, I don't think you can compare this with altering rugs on horses. Larson traps are a clear welfare issue for the trapped birds, whereas unless a rug/headcollar is cutting into the horse, that isn't (in which case, you'd be quite welcome to interfere!).
 
Alec Swan said:
Just a question for you, how would you feel if I were to stop by a field of yours, one which contained your horses, and then because I felt that you were wrong in your practices, went and altered them? It could be head collars, rugs, the feed types which you were using, anything really.

Would you point out to me that you were acting within the law, considered that you were right in your actions, and then tell me to sod off? That's what I would have done.

It must be such a relief for you, for your partner to take you seriously, for once!

Alec.
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Haven't you ever seen anything legal, which has made you cringe when it comes to animals! If not you are a cold man. Occasionally your posts really suprise me.
 
Good for you for speaking your mind OP. The original post on this thread reads to me like the OP had nothing to do with the bird no longer being there so the above scenario is redundant anyway
 
Hurrah! People should stand up for what they believe in! So much better to actually have a word with the trap owner that just let it free. That takes bottle! Have a pat on the back from me :D.
 
Alec Swan said:
It must be such a relief for you, for your partner to take you seriously, for once!
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Am I reading it wrongly, or is this sarcastic and rather unpleasant end comment? I can't see what it's got to do with the subject if so. Just a personal snipe. :(

(Edited to point out that the above quote hides the fact that only the last two words were put in italics by Alec. Rather changes the emphasis.)
 
...lol... altering a rug, is not quite in the same context as the suffering and eventual death of a bird! But then again.... maybe this is where the problems come from if they are (sadly) perceived to be.

OP, good on you for enquiring about this and I am pleased it's all now sorted.
 
Fransurrey said:
"She was attracting them with food, for God's sake!"

Our farm has always had vast numbers of swallows in summer. I've kept an annual log of the dates of their arrivals, numbers of nests, broods, repeat broods, and dates of departures. About 4 years ago, I found dozens of nests completely destroyed. Someone suggested it was the work of rats, but the positions of several of these nests precluded them as the culprits. Then, one day, I walked into one of our barns and was greeted by an enormous magpie, which was in the process of decimating one of the nests. That year, we had almost total predation of swallow chicks. I mentioned it to a local farmer who came by, the following evening, with a Larsen trap. There was a magpie in the central section, without food and water. He explained that the magpie he brought was from a different territory and that it's that "intruder" which causes the magpies in the new territory to enter the trap, not for food, but to attack the intruder. I wasn't comfortable with the trap, but I was desperate to see the few remaining swallow chicks survive to fledge and follow the migration in the autumn. I insisted on putting food and water in the trap and a board over the top for shelter. Within 24 hours, 4 magpies were trapped. I rang the farmer and he came and fetched them.
The idea that the decoy magpie could be replaced by newly caught ones completely negates the whole point of the exercise. The decoy intruder must be from a different territory for the trap to work. That being said, I won't have one on the property again.
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We used to have an old larsen trap where I worked... it was left out as the birds decided that it was a great place to nest (idiots!) not for trapping though

Pan
 
Thanks for your replies. Alec IMHO you are an idiot. Miss L Toe I doubt very much that the bird would have been released. I expected it had its neck rung or was shot, the potential fate that awaited any others it had managed to lure into the trap.

I was joking about my partner taking me seriously for once. Its been more than once, at least twice in nearly twelve years.

And Ibblebibble if we all thought along those lines there would be a lot more cruelty in the world. Sometimes we have to stand up to what we believe in even if it makes us disliked by others. I would rather be true to myself than a yes man (or woman).
 
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applecart14 said:
And Ibblebibble if we all thought along those lines there would be a lot more cruelty in the world. Sometimes we have to stand up to what we believe in even if it makes us disliked by others. I would rather be true to myself than a yes man (or woman).
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But who is to define cruelty? Personally I find it cruel to bute up an unsound horse in order to keep jumping it but others seem to find it acceptable.

The fact is that Larsen traps are legal, they work, and if they are not on your land there is not a lot you can (or should) be doing. By all means raise your concern with the landowner but at the end of the day their livelihoods rely on keeping vermin in check.

And regarding the 'charity' input, Larsen traps are actively used in a number of nature reserves.
 
Having seen a couple of magpies eating a baby blackbird alive, I haven't got much time for magpies and I think magpie numbers need to be kept down as their numbers seem to be rising enormously. Humans have skewed the balance therefore humans need to intervene. Larsen traps are a perfectly reasonable way of trapping magpies, I have only seen them used with food and water (and in bad weather even shelter) being available.

You are entitled to your opinions if you disagree with me, but you can keep the traps off your own land, not interfere with someone else's.

Please form an orderly queue if you wish to shoot me. Will you be humane?
 
rhino said:
But who is to define cruelty? Personally I find it cruel to bute up an unsound horse in order to keep jumping it but others seem to find it acceptable.

The fact is that Larsen traps are legal, they work, and if they are not on your land there is not a lot you can (or should) be doing. By all means raise your concern with the landowner but at the end of the day their livelihoods rely on keeping vermin in check.

And regarding the 'charity' input, Larsen traps are actively used in a number of nature reserves.
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I was buting my horse on vets advice in order to keep him comfortable when he jumped on a hard surface as he had spavin so get your facts right. He has had his hocks fused now so will not be in need of bute as he can feel nothing. If you would like my vets number in order to talk to him and tell him he doesn't know what he is talking about than please feel free to PM me. My horse is treated like royalty and always has been, if you bother reading my other posts you will see I have always had his best interests at heart.

As for the trap. My partners brother does not own the land. He rents the field on a nominal peppercorn rent to prevent houses being built on it as he lives next door. The landlord could well be very annoyed that activities like this are going on, in his field.

The RSPB (like I said in my previous post) agree with the Larsen trap. I do not. I didn't think it was fair. Partner agreed. Told brother. Bird gone (heaven or released who knows). End of.
 
Well done for standing your ground and doing what you believe is right!
If others believe different and would have acted differently that is their right too but they should not critizise.
:)
 
RutlandH2O said:
Fransurrey said:
"She was attracting them with food, for God's sake!"

Our farm has always had vast numbers of swallows in summer. I've kept an annual log of the dates of their arrivals, numbers of nests, broods, repeat broods, and dates of departures. About 4 years ago, I found dozens of nests completely destroyed. Someone suggested it was the work of rats, but the positions of several of these nests precluded them as the culprits. Then, one day, I walked into one of our barns and was greeted by an enormous magpie, which was in the process of decimating one of the nests. That year, we had almost total predation of swallow chicks. I mentioned it to a local farmer who came by, the following evening, with a Larsen trap. There was a magpie in the central section, without food and water. He explained that the magpie he brought was from a different territory and that it's that "intruder" which causes the magpies in the new territory to enter the trap, not for food, but to attack the intruder. I wasn't comfortable with the trap, but I was desperate to see the few remaining swallow chicks survive to fledge and follow the migration in the autumn. I insisted on putting food and water in the trap and a board over the top for shelter. Within 24 hours, 4 magpies were trapped. I rang the farmer and he came and fetched them.
The idea that the decoy magpie could be replaced by newly caught ones completely negates the whole point of the exercise. The decoy intruder must be from a different territory for the trap to work. That being said, I won't have one on the property again.
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Just for future information, swallows can fly through very small gaps... Ours nest in the stables, and poop everywhere. Last year I kept top doors shut to try and persuade them to nest in the field shelter (also on the yard), but they flew through the vents at the side of the stables! Magpies certainly couldn't, and even the babies flew through them when it was time to fly..
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lannerch said:
Well done for standing your ground and doing what you believe is right!
If others believe different and would have acted differently that is their right too but they should not critizise.
:)
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So we should agree with everything we read on here :confused: :rolleyes: If you post on a public forum you are going to get a range of opinions, that is how it works. OP was the one being personal by calling someone an 'idiot'.

And OP I have read all your previous threads thanks.
 
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