The North Pennines Moorland Group has recently experienced incidents of damage to crow and magpie cages across its estates. These traps play an important role in lawful predator management, particularly at this critical time of year for ground-nesting birds.
Spring and early summer mark the peak nesting season for many vulnerable species, including curlew, lapwing, and other small ground-nesting birds. During this period, corvids such as crows and magpies have a significant impact on eggs and chicks. Legal and carefully managed trapping helps to reduce this pressure, supporting the conservation of these often declining species.
All trapping undertaken on estates within the North Pennines is carried out in full compliance with UK legislation and best practice standards. This includes strict adherence to the requirements set out under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and relevant General Licences. Key legal and welfare obligations include:
- Traps must be checked at least every 24 hours
- Birds must be provided with clean, fresh drinking water at all times
- Birds must be supplied with adequate, good-quality food
- Suitable perches and shelter from weather must be provided
Maintaining high welfare standards is not only a legal requirement but also essential for effective operation. Healthy call birds are vital to the success of the traps, as they naturally attract other corvids. Birds in poor condition would not function effectively in this role.
The North Pennines Moorland Group strongly condemns any interference with legal trapping equipment. Damage to cages not only disrupts essential conservation work but also risks compromising animal welfare if birds are left unattended.
The group continues to work responsibly to balance land management, conservation, and animal welfare, and urges anyone with concerns to engage constructively rather than take actions that may be unlawful.
