Crows!

[clocks]

Hi! I’m an artist after crows/ravens/corvids that have been dispatched to use in an art installation.
I don’t shoot myself so I was wondering if you lovely people would be able to help?

If you’re getting rid of pests on your land I’d love to take them off your hands. I’m happy to compensate you and pay for postage etc.

Bit of a weird request I know!

 

[bobk]

Indeed .

 

[traineefarmer]

I think there may be a legal issue with posting dead animals?

 

[Dr. Alkathene]

Are you the same person who has been asking for dead corvids and other animals on Facebook? Are you planning to leave them on Chris Packhams gate?

 

[clocks]

Are you the same person who has been asking for dead corvids and other animals on Facebook? Are you planning to leave them on Chris Packhams gate?

Hah! No, not me. And I’m not fully convinced he didn’t leave them there himself tbh.

As for the legalities of posting, so long as animal remains are packaged to prevent “leakage” (yuck) there’s no issue. Otherwise how would online livefood businesses sell reptile feeders etc?

 

[Macsky]

Animal rights activist troll alert.

Trying to get farmers looking for money for shooting protected species?

hmmmmmmmmm

 

[clocks]

Oh lord no, I’m a taxidermy artist.
My website is idunnandskadi.etsy.com

 

[RushesToo]

I had a problem with grey squirrels, got a trap, sent some off frozen in bubble wrap. No more problem squirrels so it dried up.
Recommend Kania traps BTW if anyone has similar problems, very efficient.

Mostly harmless and made two people happy instead of one.

 

[clocks]

Honestly I just do taxidermy as a hobby, I’m not trying to entrap anyone. I posted my website in a previous reply but it says it’s pending moderator approval.
If this isn’t the appropriate place to ask for help I’ll delete this thread if you guys want?

 

[traineefarmer]

I think you're in the right place, we've had some animal rights nutters tolling recently so everyone's a bit jittery.

Leave the thread up for a bit of banter until people get comfortable and hopefully someone will be able to help.

If you're a taxidermist, I imagine you must get your own fair share of stick from the AR brigade.

 

[Roy_H]

I think there may be a legal issue with posting dead animals?

Sending dead animals through the post reminds me of a tale an inspector from M.A.F.F. (Remember them?) told me. They had received the body of a dead cat that was a suspected rabies case. They had to forward it's head to a laboratory to be further tested. She said she packaged it very carefully and labelled it "Veterinary specimen, fragile handle with care, " handed it over to the guy at the post office and gave him strict orders to be very careful with it as it was important that it arrived at the lab without damage (I can imagine her giving him a right royal lecture actually, she was a classic "Mrs Jobsworth but that's another story) . He asked, "Why what's in the box?" "A cat's head" she replied "O god yuck!" he said disgustedly and with that, dropped it on the floor!

 

[Dry Rot]

If a thread like this (and some others) is answered sensibly and everyone complies with the law, as we always do, I can't see why there should be a problem, even if the OP should turn out to be a raving vegan, animal rights activist, etc. Farming really has nothing to hide. The British public are not stupid and they can sort out truth from lies IF they are given the opportunity in a sensible, reasoned, and polite way.

Back in the days when I ran a sporing agency (40 years ago if anyone cares), I was invited to a dinner and found myself siting next to an absolutely gorgeous female. Her opening line was, "So you are the blood merchant, are you?". That did not bode well! By the end of the meal, I had at least had the opportunity to correct a few misconceptions and we parted friends, her a bit wiser, if not a confirmed hunter, and myself realising that most people are open to reason, given the opportunity.

Fly tyers are another lot of people who want corpses. I used to send mine to Veniards (?). And there was Youngs of Misterton who produced a fascinating catalogue full of traps, nets, fox and rabbit repellents, and all sorts of odds and ends etc. who would take stuff. I purchased a ferret from them when I was in the Outer Isles that arrived via British Rail and McBraynes in a fish box and was as big as a cat! But these days it is wise to check the law before discussing pretty much anything involving the countryside and wildlife. Google is your friend here!

 

[Dry Rot]

Sending dead animals through the post reminds me of a tale an inspector from M.A.F.F. (Remember them?) told me. They had received the body of a dead cat that was a suspected rabies case. They had to forward it's head to a laboratory to be further tested. She said she packaged it very carefully and labelled it "Veterinary specimen, fragile handle with care, " handed it over to the guy at the post office and gave him strict orders to be very careful with it as it was important that it arrived at the lab without damage (I can imagine her giving him a right royal lecture actually, she was a classic "Mrs Jobsworth but that's another story) . He asked, "Why what's in the box?" "A cat's head" she replied "O god yuck!" he said disgustedly and dropped it on the floor!

We are in danger of descending into banter, but I liked the story!

Talking of veterinary specimens, you may have heard of the chicken farmer whose hens were dying mysteriously? So he sent a corpse off to the lab for autopsy. The report came back saying the corpse was too old to find out anything specific and could the farmer send a fresher specimen?

So the farmer caught a hen that looked a bit sick, killed it and sent it off.

A week later a report arrived from the lab with an invoice for £20. The report staed, "This hen died from a broken neck".

 

[Roy_H]

If a thread like this (and some others) is answered sensibly and everyone complies with the law, as we always do, I can't see why there should be a problem, even if the OP should turn out to be a raving vegan, animal rights activist, etc. Farming really has nothing to hide. The British public are not stupid and they can sort out truth from lies IF they are given the opportunity in a sensible, reasoned, and polite way.

Back in the days when I ran a sporing agency (40 years ago if anyone cares), I was invited to a dinner and found myself siting next to an absolutely gorgeous female. Her opening line was, "So you are the blood merchant, are you?". That did not bode well! By the end of the meal, I had at least had the opportunity to correct a few misconceptions and we parted friends, her a bit wiser, if not a confirmed hunter, and myself realising that most people are open to reason, given the opportunity.

Fly tyers are another lot of people who want corpses. I used to send mine to Veniards (?). And there was Youngs of Misterton who produced a fascinating catalogue full of traps, nets, fox and rabbit repellents, and all sorts of odds and ends etc. who would take stuff. I purchased a ferret from them when I was in the Outer Isles that arrived via British Rail and McBraynes in a fish box and was as big as a cat! But these days it is wise to check the law before discussing pretty much anything involving the countryside and wildlife. Google is your friend here!

Young's of Misterton! What an Aladdin's cave their catalogue was. Oh yes no doubt those sparrow traps would be strictly forbidden now.

 

[clocks]

If you're a taxidermist, I imagine you must get your own fair share of stick from the AR brigade.

I’ve been pretty lucky so far, just a few snide comments here and there. Nothing like what you guys must get!

 

[wr.]

On Countryfile this evening. Well done.

 

[jellybean]

If a thread like this (and some others) is answered sensibly and everyone complies with the law, as we always do, I can't see why there should be a problem, even if the OP should turn out to be a raving vegan, animal rights activist, etc. Farming really has nothing to hide. The British public are not stupid and they can sort out truth from lies IF they are given the opportunity in a sensible, reasoned, and polite way.

Back in the days when I ran a sporing agency (40 years ago if anyone cares), I was invited to a dinner and found myself siting next to an absolutely gorgeous female. Her opening line was, "So you are the blood merchant, are you?". That did not bode well! By the end of the meal, I had at least had the opportunity to correct a few misconceptions and we parted friends, her a bit wiser, if not a confirmed hunter, and myself realising that most people are open to reason, given the opportunity.

Fly tyers are another lot of people who want corpses. I used to send mine to Veniards (?). And there was Youngs of Misterton who produced a fascinating catalogue full of traps, nets, fox and rabbit repellents, and all sorts of odds and ends etc. who would take stuff. I purchased a ferret from them when I was in the Outer Isles that arrived via British Rail and McBraynes in a fish box and was as big as a cat! But these days it is wise to check the law before discussing pretty much anything involving the countryside and wildlife. Google is your friend here!

Youngs of Misterton! Wow that brings back memories, I bought my first rifle from them 51 years ago. I used to love going to their "shop" it was absolutely unique. All the various smells, gun oil, ropes and nets, concoctions to smear on traps.
So much more interesting than the gun shops of today. I suppose that the things people did in those days are no longer the norm so there would be not much call for such a place now although I expect a lot of it could be bought online if you knew where to look. West Dorset in those days was a fabulous place to be working if you were interested in wild life.

 

[Dry Rot]

Youngs of Misterton! Wow that brings back memories, I bought my first rifle from them 51 years ago. I used to love going to their "shop" it was absolutely unique. All the various smells, gun oil, ropes and nets, concoctions to smear on traps.
So much more interesting than the gun shops of today. I suppose that the things people did in those days are no longer the norm so there would be not much call for such a place now although I expect a lot of it could be bought online if you knew where to look. West Dorset in those days was a fabulous place to be working if you were interested in wild life.

A lot of what they sold would be illegal today! Yes, it is rather sad not to see kids in the countryside any more. Egg and butterfly collecting were 'the thing' when I was young, now they'd have you in court! I got my first ferret just when myxy arrived which was a real let down. I followed a hunt every day back then, barring Sundays of course, and all on foot or by bicycle. That was th best way to see the countryside. I tagged on to a couple of characters who knew every fox earth or badgers sett within miles. It was only later the penny dropped why they would stare into the rivers with polaroid glasses on! As a teenager, we got access to all sorts of firearms. None licensed and mostly souvenirs from various wars brought back by relatives. Black power, flints, percussion caps, etc. could be purchased without a licence from Thomas Bland of (I think) King Street in London. How we didn't kill ourselves is a complete mystery! Good fun though!