Harrier Trap Trick

Hen Harrier trapped at Leadhills as shown in the video**

In my last blog I talked about raptor persecution, and that was influenced by a video** created by Chris Packham. 

Recently, a Hen Harrier was found injured with a spring trap on its leg at Leadhills estate in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The bird was obviously subjected to illegal persecution but by whom? The estate denies responsibility in their statement* but does say that a few of their spring traps have been tampered with or removed near the time of this persecution event.

The Fen trap beside the harrier's nest as shown in the video**

The video** by Chris Packham states that a spring trap was also found at the time near the harrier's nest. He declares that the trap was set and active. Well, the trap shown as evidence in the video is not set as the treddle plate is down with the safety catch applied to the snap bar at the top right of the photo. The trap is not active and could not have trapped a harrier. The snap bar at the back of the trap does not show the trigger mechanism coming across the bar and then onto the treddle plate catch, as shown in the photo below. 

If one of the raptor study group monitors that discovered the trap near the nest actually put the safety on to prevent further problems then is this not tampering with evidence and why is moss/vegetation still covering the mechanisms that would have to be accessed to make it safe? I do wonder if the police tested the trap for fingerprints or partials to detect the culprit ..... suppose not.

Excuses that the trap was made safe first, then photographed do not ring true because of the vegetation over the activating mechanisms. First action on discovering an illegally set trap would be to photograph it in place untouched. 

A set Fen Trap with trigger mechanism on the treddle plate, safety catch also applied

So, no doubt there was an element of illegal persecution but by whom? The spring trap photograph is a set up or fake situation organised later as additional 'evidence' to the harrier with the trap on its leg. Because of the trap deception, I am now actually suspecting that this harrier was purposefully trapped by extreme anti grouse moor campaigners to further their cause to smear grouse moor estates.

I am sure, like the hunt saboteur brigade, that there exists a dark faction who put anti grouse moor agendas before the life of raptors, and in this case the life of a Hen Harrier. In my opinion, a sinister enigma hangs over the raptor persecution debate that not only involves illegal activities by grouse moor estates but also now includes 'anarchistic' activities by criminally reactionary groups desperate to destroy the privileges of the game bird sportsman and moor owners.

By the way, the bird died from post surgical infection at the vet's. An attempt to pin the broken leg failed and probably was a risky misadventure. An alternative wise choice would have been to amputate the lower leg and talon, leaving the bird alive and under a falconer's care.

Notes;........article in progress............

All text done on the 17 July 2019 and subject to copyright - no reproduction.

My new book 'Wildsketch' is available from Blurb bookshop

Income from book sales will form a donation to CABS (Committee Against Bird Slaughter)

**Hen Harrier trapped in South Lanarkshire

*Leadhills Estate statement about the harrier

If you are inspired to go out into the hills and glens of Scotland please leave it as you find it, respect the environment, do not litter or discard so called 'biodegradable' fruit and especially if you are a dog walker keep your beast on a lead and do not bag up its waste then chuck it by the wayside. I recently came across one black poo bag neatly hung on a tree branch for someone else to take home and also a bright blue one thrown in the moorland verge....why?

Moorland birds like Golden Plover, Dunlin, Dotterel, Ptarmigan and many raptors nest on the ground, it is advisable to keep dogs at heel or preferably on leads when walking on the high plateaux of the Cairngorms during summer months.

Please be aware that it is illegal to disturb nesting eagles or other raptors and you may do so inadvertently in your journeys into the highlands. Observe protected species at a respectful distance usually from about 1000 metres and for short periods of time only.

No wildlife was unduly or knowingly disturbed by my presence or for the purposes of this web page other than what would be expected on a normal hill walk. Many geographic names and location recognizable photos have been omitted to prevent persecution or ringing-monitoring disturbance to named species.

Canon camera 200D with optical zoom lens EFS 55-250mm used; please note that the zoom range distance if given is calculated by OS map from subject location to camera