Larsen traps usually consist of a cage trap with a closed compartment to lock a live lure and one or more additional compartments with a spring-activated hatch at the top or side. The use of this type of trap is permitted under the General Authorisation and allows an authorised person to keep or confine the birds listed in the General Authorisation in a Larsen cage trap of smaller dimensions than those required by section 8(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and section 9(1) of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. We recommend that traps that are not used be taken for storage if possible. This avoids the risk of incidental catches, avoids the possibility of someone else setting the trap or vandalizing and extending their lifespan. If you continue to use Larsen traps in the spring and summer, the establishment of territories will be constantly disturbed, and during the presence fresh birds will be engaged in territorial defense and nest building. Their need for food is never inflated by the need to feed the young, and they have little time to observe the brooding movements of wild and singing birds. In a well-run fishing program, you caught each original pair before they were young, and then removed new ones before they were fully established. They must be competent in the safe handling and handling of traps as well as in humane shipping techniques. Other simple traps without decoy compartments, known as Larsen Mates, Larsen Pods or “shell traps”, have become very popular. The intended use is either with bait alone (e.g. a good option for catching the first-call bird); or to catch birds that are not ready to enter the Trapping compartment of Larsen. These compartment traps are now explicitly legal in Scotland, but in England and Wales their use is currently a grey area.
We hope that they will be explicitly allowed in future GLs in England and Wales. Larsen traps were designed by a Danish game warden (Larsen) in the 1950s, but are now banned in this country because traps are considered inhumane for catching magpies and crows. The law in Scotland allows their use without any training to treat and kill birds. [7] Legally established traps are often vandalized. [8] Larsen traps are usually placed near a pheasant pen or on the edge of a forest where the nearby pheasant stable is located. You can also find them in the corner of a cereal field. You will see a 4×4 vehicle lane where the game warden inspects the Larsen trap from time to time. Exposure of carcasses is useless and may offend other rural users. Carcasses must be disposed of responsibly in accordance with the regulations. Avoid setting traps near public trails or public rights-of-way. There are regulations that determine how traps can be used, but these are systematically and regularly ignored.
The regulations include: The traps are made of wire and wood and have a compartment in which a live lure is kept to take advantage of the territorial or curious behavior of crows. In spring or early summer (of the breeding season), when these behaviors are at their strongest, the examining bird descends and falls into a cage trap feathered by a collapsing perch and revolving door. When the game warden returns, the captured birds are “returned”. Lures are often found dead through neglect or starvation, or can only watch other captured birds being killed. The GWCT council at this stage must take the precaution of killing all birds out of sight if possible until we have further clarification. With Larsen traps and the generally small number of prisoners, it doesn`t take much effort to turn your back or walk behind the vehicle. It is also important to remember that licences are only issued for one year at a time and can be changed. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are aware of and comply with the current terms of the license agreement. You can view and download the current licenses on the NatureScot website. Do not forget to pay attention to the points of well-being.
Take care of your callbirds and keep your traps clean. Strict adherence to our guidelines will not only ensure that custodians work in accordance with the law, but will also help the public accept this valuable fishing technique. “Larsen traps [are] the most disgusting method of persecution. The Larsen trap consists of a cage with two compartments, each with a spring door. One compartment contains the frightened lure; The second kept his door open by a split perch. To fall into the trap, a magpie will inevitably fall on the perch out of curiosity, which will then give way, and the door will close, so that the captured magpie will be left to its fate and the cowardly elves can be used again and again until it dies of stress and in some cases even hunger. “[From In Defence of Magpies – a brochure published by Bedfordshire Wildlife Rescue – www.wildlife-rescue.org.uk] However, we have seen very few catches of non-target species in the thieves traps – another point that speaks for them. In a survey of more than 10,000 captive birds, only 1% were non-target species. Finches and visit them often, but are too small to trigger the mechanism.
Of course, many species of birds protected by law, as well as wild birds, suffer from crows on their eggs or young, and the Larsen trap can also be an effective tool for preserving these birds.