Larsen Traps and Crow Cage Traps
This guide is to help the users of Larsen traps and crow cage traps to ensure they stay within the law when operating the traps. For trapping purposes general licences only cover Larsen traps and 'any other crow cage trap'.
A Larsen trap is defined under the general licences as :
A portable cage-trap which has a closed compartment for confining a live bird as a decoy and one or more spring activated trap-doors which are either top or side mounted.
'Any other crow cage traps' are not defined though from conditions in the general licences is that when the trap is not in use a door or panel must be removed from the site. This is indicative of the trap being large enough to have a door or panel capable of removal.
The use of any bird traps outwith these definitions may well be in contravention of Section 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
- A number of general licences are issued annually by the Scottish Government. The first four relate to certain birds that may in some circumstances be considered to be pests. Users of these general licences should work from the basis that all wild birds are protected, but the licences allow actions to be taken that would otherwise be unlawful.
- These licences authorises the taking and killing of certain birds, by certain methods, in certain circumstances by authorised persons who have read and understood the licence. There is no need for the user to be in possession of the licence.
- A person convicted of offence under the main wildlife legislation cannot use these licences. This includes shooting as well as trapping.
- Licence 1 – for conservation of birds. An authorised person may control great black-backed gull, carrion crow, hooded crow, jackdaw, jay, magpie and rook. In a Larsen trap an authorised person may use a carrion crow, hooded crow or magpie as a decoy/call bird. Note: not jackdaw
- Licence 2 – to prevent damage to crops and livestock. An authorised person may control great black-backed gull, carrion crow, hooded crow, jackdaw, magpie, rook, collared dove, feral pigeon, wood pigeon. Note: not jay. In a Larsen trap an authorised person may use a carrion crow, hooded crow, magpie or jackdaw as a decoy/call bird.
- Licence 3 – to protect public health and prevent spread of disease. An authorised person may control great black-backed gull, lesser black-backed gull, herring gull, carrion crow, hooded crow, jackdaw, magpie, rook, collared dove, feral pigeon, wood pigeon. Note: not jay. In a Larsen trap an authorised person may use a carrion crow, hooded crow or magpie as a decoy/call bird. Note: not jay or jackdaw
- Licence 4 deals with air safety and is not dealt with here
- In multi-catch cage traps only specified corvids can be used as decoys – no pigeons or passerines. More than one decoy bird may be used.
- Traps must be checked at intervals of not more than 24 hours
- In a Larsen trap, only one decoy may be used and must be in a separate compartment.
- All relevant animal welfare legislation must be complied with. Decoy birds must have adequate food, water, a perch and shelter from the prevailing wind and rain.
- When any cage trap is not in use it must be immobilised and rendered capable of use in such a way that the immobilisation could not be reversed without considerable forethought or considerable difficulty. Doors or panels of cage traps must be removed from the site or, if they are not removed from the site they must be taken off the trap and secured by a locked padlock. When a Larsen trap is not in use, access doors must be secured with a padlock or the trap removed from site and stored in such a manner as to prevent its accidental use.
- Cage traps and Larsen traps used under the licences shall carry a tag or sign that gives the number of the local police station or wildlife crime officer for the area. This shall carry a unique code that allows the owner to be identified by the police. In Tayside this code is available by contacting Constable Blair Wilkie, Wildlife and Environmental Crime Officer, on 01307 303530.
