"Rules on killing ravens relaxed"

Ukwildlifeo · #1 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 10:40 AM

from here on the bbc website

BBC NEWS | Scotland | Highlands and Islands | Rules on killing ravens relaxed

Seems a bit extreme to cull a bird with only 12,000 pairs in the entire UK....

Lance Morgan · #2 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 10:49 AM

Exactly. damage caused to livestock is very small and animals would probably die anyway. Madness

squishy · #3 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 02:10 PM

it's the same as the blame on the magpie for decline in song birds. (except even more stupid)
people prefere to look for these easy solutions that pass the blame onto other animals so that they can feel better about themselves.

it's not just extreme, its stupid, pigheaded, pointless and wont solve anything. all it will do is devistate our ravens, absolutely magnificent birds, and then someone will probably blame eagles or something for the decline in ravens. madness

Lance Morgan · #4 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 03:38 PM

If they relax the rules for Ravens bop will be targeted too

lovfinion · #5 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 03:45 PM

This is pretty disturbing news, these farmers wont be happy till every Raven+BOP is exterminated and I believe that would make them all very happy...
Guess I need to do more research, didn't know Raven's predated Lambs, I live and learn...

These magnificient Birds are by far my favorite British species and it saddens me to know, that they are once again going to be culled

epops · #6 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 03:45 PM

Never read such utter rubbish as said before Bird of Prey will be next

squishy · #7 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 04:03 PM

when will people learn that we are not the only, or most important, things on this planet.

probably only when we have killed everything that annoys us in the slightest, and the world falls apart as a consequence

The Woodman · #8 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 05:11 PM

It isn't rubbish, it's true. Ravens are adapting their behaviour and are now killing more lambs than ever before. The lambs they kill are not just "bad dooers", 20 ravens can quickly render a healthy fit lamb into a blind, gut hanging mess. I've seen it.
There is at least one documented record of ravens killing a calf.
The subject has nothing to do with BoP control.
My concern is the method of control. Ravens are a most intelligent bird, endowed with remarkable eyesight and if you've ever tried to get near one, you'll know how hard it is. I cannot imagine the economics of a farmer waiting in a hide for a couple of hours to take one shot at a luckless bird coming in to laid carrion bait. That birds cohorts will not go near that bait again. So how will it be done? The silent killers perhaps- mechanical or chemical?

diggleken · #9 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Woodman

It isn't rubbish, it's true. Ravens are adapting their behaviour and are now killing more lambs than ever before. The lambs they kill are not just "bad dooers", 20 ravens can quickly render a healthy fit lamb into a blind, gut hanging mess. I've seen it.
There is at least one documented record of ravens killing a calf.
The subject has nothing to do with BoP control.
My concern is the method of control. Ravens are a most intelligent bird, endowed with remarkable eyesight and if you've ever tried to get near one, you'll know how hard it is. I cannot imagine the economics of a farmer waiting in a hide for a couple of hours to take one shot at a luckless bird coming in to laid carrion bait. That birds cohorts will not go near that bait again. So how will it be done? The silent killers perhaps- mechanical or chemical?

they sure are clever birds -most corvids seem to be - in the canadian rockies they get very very close (plus Clarkes nutcrackers), quite disconcerting for such a large bird with such a vicious beak, but I love em - still dont think there should be any cull in spite of some damage done - surely its acceptable to take some hits with lambs. It goes with the territory as a hill farmer.
Ken

Gill Catton · #10 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 05:32 PM

I was under the impression that its likely to be about only about removing problem birds or reducing raven numbers where they are causing a problem?

I'm not sure about ravens killing a calf as they struggle to get through skin of animals even squirrel skin can defeat them! They're generally only able to eat exterior soft parts like eyes and tongue though they can utilise any wound around the umbilical cord should an animal be born with a little gut exposed here for example.

Obviously though removing tongue and eyes leaves an animal who really ought to be dead and would be pretty shortly. There is no doubt then that ravens can do a lot of damage to a flock of upland sheep lambing in the open air espcially as they can breed fairly early and young ravens eat A LOT of food.

It wouldn't suprise me if ravens to learnt that this behaviour or venturing into certain farmsteads gets them killed or shot at and they may well move on. They are incredibly intelligent birds.