Ravens - any traps that work?

[andybk]

They are utter bstrds , any ewe on her back will last about 1/2 hour here , usually peck a hole each side of udder and drag intestines out , and eyes , extremely clever birds !
Had one in a tree watching a upturned ewe , i had gun and took it out truck (thought it was a crow) bird went straight away , next time it was in same tree on a lower branch watching a lambing ewe (no gun) it just sat there cussing me ,despite me shouting and waving arms , cheeky sod !

 

[GAM]

Are there any traps on the market that could be used to move these on? I know there’s licence to shoot them but just wondered about other methods. A larger ladder trap maybe? They’ve never been a problem before but can’t let a lamb hit the ground outside and they’re on the scene taking tongues and worse.

Disclaimer - this is a hypothetical question and asking for a friend 🫣

Have a look at this:

 

[Dry Rot]

Not a nice thought, but a talking head is all very well. That whole sequence, as related by the flock owner, needs to be put on film and a copy sent to every MP in Parliament. Words are not enough, they need to have their noses rubbed into the reality of the situation.

I have asked this question before, if the sheep owner is on site with a rifle in his hands and a raven starts it's attack on a ewe, what is he meant to do? He has a duty to look after his livestock but also not to harm the raven. Which is the primary duty?

 

[Dachie]

Not a nice thought, but a talking head is all very well. That whole sequence, as related by the flock owner, needs to be put on film and a copy sent to every MP in Parliament. Words are not enough, they need to have their noses rubbed into the reality of the situation.

I have asked this question before, if the sheep owner is on site with a rifle in his hands and a raven starts it's attack on a ewe, what is he meant to do? He has a duty to look after his livestock but also not to harm the raven. Which is the primary duty?

Exactly this point. I put this to Nature Scotland and NFUS. My words were actually my hands are tied if I do nothing about the ravens I will be locked up for cruelty by letting them attack my stock but if I shoot them I will will be locked up for shooting a raven that's ripping my livestock to pieces and if it comes to it I would rather be locked up for protecting my stock than not.

 

[BAF]

The trouble is MP's don't actually care about us. We're not the ones out there sacrificing ourselves to save the British wildlife from evil hunters/farmers and we're not the ones screaming blue murder eveytime a badger gets shot or a fox gets chased about. And that is why we don't matter.
The old hunting statistics about 58% said to keep hunting with hounds or 98% said ban it depending on who's side you were on was and is complete rubbish on both sides. 95% of the public couldn't give a monkeys either way until they're pressured into having an opinion and then the gory photos of chomped up animals are dragged out or poor abandoned baby animals and suddenly they have an opinion. If any MP tried to lift the ban on shooting BOP/Ravens or badgers or hunting with dogs they'd be laughed out of parliament. On its own its not a vote winner but get the rabid loonies behind it and it soon becomes a vote loser!

 

[ajcc]

243miles away before they find their way back

17 is adequate.

 

[Dry Rot]

The trouble is MP's don't actually care about us. We're not the ones out there sacrificing ourselves to save the British wildlife from evil hunters/farmers and we're not the ones screaming blue murder eveytime a badger gets shot or a fox gets chased about. And that is why we don't matter.
The old hunting statistics about 58% said to keep hunting with hounds or 98% said ban it depending on who's side you were on was and is complete rubbish on both sides. 95% of the public couldn't give a monkeys either way until they're pressured into having an opinion and then the gory photos of chomped up animals are dragged out or poor abandoned baby animals and suddenly they have an opinion. If any MP tried to lift the ban on shooting BOP/Ravens or badgers or hunting with dogs they'd be laughed out of parliament. On its own its not a vote winner but get the rabid loonies behind it and it soon becomes a vote loser!

When I lived in the Outer Isles back in the 1970s ravens and black backed gulls were not just on the vermin list but a bounty was paid on them!

 

[Kidds]

Basc website have a downloadable plan for a ladder trap, I’ve made one for my mate, easy enough to follow, but sounds like you need to enlarge the holes in the ladder

How to make a ladder trap

A strategically set ladder trap will catch birds when other methods of control either won’t work or are impractical.

basc.org.uk

Easy to make and work well on other corvids, not tried to catch ravens.

 

[spark_28]

When I lived in the Outer Isles back in the 1970s ravens and black backed gulls were not just on the vermin list but a bounty was paid on them!

Black backs are probably the worst. Thankfully very few around

 

[GAM]

How to make a ladder trap

A strategically set ladder trap will catch birds when other methods of control either won’t work or are impractical.

basc.org.uk

Easy to make and work well on other corvids, not tried to catch ravens.

You will be the first if you do!

 

[GAM]

Black backs are probably the worst. Thankfully very few around

They usually come after the Ravens, never seen them together here ....

 

[JockCroft]

Black backs are probably the worst. Thankfully very few around

Seem less around. Only saw one pair of Black Backs in fields a few times. Seeing a handful of dead crows, maybe bird flu still on the go.
Spreading fert yesterday afternoon and at least 8 swallows flitting about, and a few lapwings. Must be less predators about. Hopefully.

 

[hendrebc]

I read somewhere that crows and corvids in general have had a hammering with bird flu. They eat the other dead birds so catch it quite easily. And they are quite social birds so when one gets it they pass it about.

 

[spark_28]

Seem less around. Only saw one pair of Black Backs in fields a few times. Seeing a handful of dead crows, maybe bird flu still on the go.
Spreading fert yesterday afternoon and at least 8 swallows flitting about, and a few lapwings. Must be less predators about. Hopefully.

Lapwing numbers here are booming. Which is good as they are probably one of my favourite birds.

 

[JockCroft]

Lapwing numbers here are booming. Which is good as they are probably one of my favourite birds.

Lapwings are my favourite too. Have found one nest, and the few crows around haven't so far bothered them. Not been nests here for years, but usually in autumn have a large cluster gather before migrating.

Just reralised, have not seen any duck this year. Just Bl____y Geese started to come on to grass. One pair wont rise until 10 yards from them. Cheeky sods.

 

[Guleesh]

Lapwing numbers here are booming. Which is good as they are probably one of my favourite birds.

Very pleased to hear this, we had quite a few of them coming here when I was a boy but haven't seen them since.

 

[spark_28]

Very pleased to hear this, we had quite a few of them coming here when I was a boy but haven't seen them since.

The last 3/4 years they've been getting more plentiful but this year I've seen loads. I've been walking our croft for since I could walk and can never remember seeing as many. They've had a good nesting period too which will help. Found a clutch of eggs in the croft and 3 hatched but haven't managed to find the chicks. I like to have a wee look but don't hang about long.

 

[Kidds]

Just reralised, have not seen any duck this year.

Never seen so many as this year. Very often 2-3 on my lawn. I think they are doing a good job on the slugs in my veg patch too, one even nested in there (until the bastid magpies found her)

 

[GAM]

Lapwing numbers here are booming. Which is good as they are probably one of my favourite birds.

Since moving to West Wales, I've only seen the odd Lapwing fly past, never on the ground!

 

[BAF]

Since moving to West Wales, I've only seen the odd Lapwing fly past, never on the ground!

Thats defintely, maybe nothing to do with the badger population.. but I bet if they were thinned out there'd be a lot more ground nesting birds about.