The Law

A Brief Guide to Larsen Trap Legislation

In 1996 following concerns that Larsen traps where being used to catch protected birds the General Licence for Larsen traps was tightened. As a result the license allows the trap to be used for the control of: Crows, Magpies, Rooks, Jackdaws and Jays. Wood pigeons and Sparrows were removed from the legal decoy list. Further amendments were added on the 1st January 2000. There follows a general outline of the main points affecting operation in the field of corvid control.

All Larsen trapping operations must be carried out for a purpose. Simply hating Crows for example is not a valid reason.

The welfare requirements of the decoy must be taken into account (see report: BASC member guilty). Decoy birds must be provided with food, water, shelter and a perch. As with all traps the Larsen must be checked at least once a day. The check time is generally carried out between the hours of one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset.

The Larsen trap is governed by a general licence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Captured birds provided they fall within the legal quarry list may be dispatched by an approved method.

Unbelievably there is no set size to decoy cages. Some manufacturers, in an effort to increase profit by saving on materials, are supplying Larsen traps with decoy compartments less than 18 inches cubed! Please keep an look out for any this small and notify us of their exact location.

When not in use Larsen traps MUST be rendered incapable of catching, i.e. no bird can push the trap door open and become caught as a result. Top opening traps can be turned upside down or have the door springs unhooked.

Defra rules in relation to Cage Traps.