'Boxes of death' being used to illegally trap and kill birds

A crow rescue centre in Leicestershire is urging people to be on the lookout for inhumane traps used to cruelly kill birds.

Leicestershire Rook Rescue is backing a campaign to stop the use of Larsen Traps, which use live crows or magpies to ensnare and kill other birds.

The mesh snares known as the ‘Box of Death’ have one compartment with the bait and another with twigs lying across an open cage.

When a bird perches on them they fall into the side cage, there to await its fate.

A spokesperson for the rook rescue group said: “As a wildlife rescuer we need to ensure the public are made aware of these traps and how they are being misused.

“They cause a great deal of stress and suffering to the decoy or bait bird and death to those who are captured.”

By law there should be clean decent food for the trapped bird, a perch, water and shelter from wind and rain.

The Organisation Against Corvid Traps (ACT) says that there is often no provision for the bait, which is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act and the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

It claims that the countryside is littered with what it calls “disgusting medieval traps”.

'Birds left to die of hunger'

The group said: “All too often these birds have been left to die of hunger and thirst and in blazing hot sun.

“It is cruel and evil to deny a bird its instinct to mate, nest and hatch eggs at the time of the year when others are doing so.

“Think of the lonely days and nights it lingers there captive on the ground frightened by marauding creatures of the night.”

Trappers will sometimes leave only a handful of dried dog food for the captive bird or fix a rodent water bottle to the side of the trap, which is not fit for a bird’s beak.

Conservation group comment

Glynn Evans, head of games and gundogs at the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, said: "The control of species such as crows and magpies is an integral part of conservation and wildlife management. It is necessary to reduce predation and damage to acceptable levels, particularly at vulnerable times of the year such as the nesting season. 

"Larsen traps are a legitimate and humane means of carrying out such control and they can legally be used under authority of what are known as General licences.

"These licences are issued by the Government and allow the taking of species listed within the licence for specified purposes. Those trapping under the authority of the licences must comply fully with the of terms and conditions within.

"These include provisions to ensure the welfare of any decoy or call birds as they are commonly known and also any birds which may be caught."

Leicestershire Rook Rescue has worked with ACT group and signed petitions to have the Larsen Traps banned in the UK.

If you come across a distressed call bird banging its beak on the cage, or one without food and water, contact ACT on act@againstcorvidtraps.co.uk or call the police wildlife officer on 101.