Hi,can anyone tell me the current laws concerning trapping of magpies or other corvids?
I have been told that you cannot trap during the breeding season if so are there any dates?
Many thanks Brian :unsure:

There are no seasons on pest species if defined as one under law, see DEFRA general licence.

People just don’t like to leave starving chicks in a nest so best bet is to go and destroy the nests, same with foxes etc.

This an extract from the General licence issued by DEFRA


The terms and conditions of the general licence are:

* only crow, jackdaw, jay*, magpie and rook may be kept or confined in a Larsen cage trap as a decoy.

* any bird other than crow, jackdaw, jay*, magpie and rook, which may be caught in the Larsen cage trap, must be released immediately on being found.

* each Larsen cage trap, which contains a live decoy bird must be inspected on at least one occasion in any 24 hour period. Where Larsen cage traps are left in the open but not in use, they must be rendered incapable of holding or catching birds.

* the decoy bird must be provided with adequate food, water, shelter and a perch for the entire period which it is used. The decoy bird must be removed when the trap is not in use.

For further information, read THIS

Dave

many thanks for the information very useful
Brian.