POLICE have urged the public not to interfere with wildlife traps in rural areas, after a number of legal traps were damaged on the North York Moors.
Traps such as cage traps, Larsen traps and ladder traps contain a live bird of a “pest species” – such as crows, magpies, jays and rooks – which attracts other similar birds to enter the trap, which is maintained by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
PC Andy Marsden, a wildlife crime officer at North Yorkshire Police, said: “It is important that legal traps are not interfered with, as they play a part in reducing the predation of eggs and chicks of ground nesting birds such as lapwings, curlews and grouse.
“If you discover one of these traps and you are not certain of its use, please do not take it upon yourself to interfere with it.
“If you have concerns, photograph the trap in situ, get a GPS location if possible, and contact North Yorkshire Police so we can investigate.
“We take such reports very seriously, and will take decisive action against people who commit wildlife crime.”
Anyone with information should phone police on 101.
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