Hunt for wild bird poachers at Pugneys Country Park
Police have launched an investigation after tip off that birds were being caught in traps at Pugneys Country Park and then sold on the black market. PC Ashley Wood and RSPCA Inspector Taylor
POACHERS are trapping wild birds at a beauty spot and selling them on the black market for up to £100, according to police.
The Rural neighbourhood police team (NPT) has launched an investigation after reports that boxes and cages are being used to catch birds, mainly goldfinches, at Pugneys Country Park.
Once trapped the birds are then sold on the black market to buyers from around the UK.
PC Ashley Wood, of the Rural NPT, said: “The catching and selling of any wild birds is illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
“The target birds are believed to be goldfinches. These can be sold for up to £100 per bird and are often attractive to potential buyers due to their striking colours and looks.
“This is big business for poachers for relatively easy work in their eyes.”
PC Wood has found evidence that ‘larsen’ style traps, which are metal or wooden cages with two compartments, are being used.
Inside one half the poachers put bird bait – another bird of the same species they wish to steal inside to attract others.
PC Wood said: “Other known methods are used such as spreading glue on branches causing the goldfinch to get stuck, making them easy pickings for the poachers.”
He urged walkers to look out for suspicious behaviour around Pugneys, on Asdale Road.
PC Wood is working with the RSPCA.
Insp Jo Taylor said: “We are monitoring the area because the have confirmed information that birds are being trapped and taken from Pugneys.
“Trapping birds causes them extreme stress and can harm them.
“I would urge anyone with information to call the police.”
Anyone with information should contact the Rural NPT call 101.
Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111
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Friday 25 May 2012
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Comments
There are 5 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Wakefield Rural NPT
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 03:12 PMIn the interests of clarity the information was that a resident near Pugneys was catching wild birds, which were believed to have originated from the Country Park. It was not the case that the trapping was taking place within the Country Park itself. Having spoken to the manager of the Park this afternoon, there are a number of security measures in place there to protect the birds from this form of trapping, however the threat remains very real outside the Park and the investigation into these activities is ongoing. Insp Clare, Rural NPT.
Phil Wakefield
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 06:56 PMNot arguing that it doesn't take place, the question is about it happening in Pugneys. Like Mike in post 1, I would have been more convinced seeing photographic evidence of the crime rather than a posing PC and RSPCA person reciting almost exactly a story that appeared in July 2010 in the Independent.
AKellyRSPCA
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 12:53 PMThe RSPCA regularly investigate and prosecute individuals under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for illegally trapping songbirds including goldfinches, bullfinches etc. for personal use or the black market. Birds do indeed make anything up to £100 on the black market. The traps used are small drop cages, not disimilar to smaller versions of Larsen traps. These drop traps contain a decoy bird (and food)and as soon as a wild bird investigates and enters the trap it triggers and the bird is trapped. Sadly it is an increasing problem involving thousands of birds each year. The trapped birds are stressed in captivity and many are injured in the process. Larsen traps are legal under certain conditions, but again, sadly these are misused, sometimes using pigeons as decoys to trap birds of prey. Head of Widlife Department, RSPCA
Phil Wakefield
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 11:29 AMI don't believe it either, so poachers with all of the woodland they could choose, they choose the most populated park in the area? This story originated in the Independent in July 2010, on that occassion it was Scotland Yard warning about the issue. Oddly enough the story is the same and the price hasn't changed, still 100 quid.
Mike101
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 04:26 PMLarsen traps are actually quite legal and used to catch pest species of bird. Had there been any evidence of this bizarre claim then we would have been presented with photos! Afraid this is another non-story designed to give the RSPCA publicity and to mislead the public into harassing people going about their legitimate business.
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