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Larsen Trap and Corvid Control Risk Assessment — Generated Instantly for £29
Describe your corvid control activity — setting and checking Larsen traps daily for crows on woodland or moorland to protect ground-nesting waders. We generate a fully written, UK-compliant risk assessment covering licensing conditions, decoy welfare, lone working and terrain hazards in minutes.
Used by gamekeepers, wildlife wardens, conservation rangers and estate staff across the UK
🐦 Checking traps daily, alone, on the woods or moor? Mention it — we will include lone working controls, decoy bird welfare checks, humane despatch procedures and the daily inspection frequency required under general licence conditions.
Legal requirements for Larsen trap and corvid control
All wild birds in the UK are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is only lawful to trap or kill corvids such as carrion crows and magpies under an appropriate General Licence issued by Natural England (or the relevant devolved body), typically for the purpose of conserving wild birds, including protecting ground-nesting waders from predation. General licence conditions specify permitted methods, species, and locations, and must be checked before every season as they are reviewed and updated regularly.
Traps must be an approved design under the Wild Animals in Traps (Approval) Order, and general licence conditions require Larsen traps to be inspected at least once every 24 hours. Decoy birds used in the trap must be provided with food, water, shelter and adequate space at all times, and any captured target bird must be despatched humanely without delay, in line with duties under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Beyond licensing compliance, employers and self-employed gamekeepers have a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to assess and manage risks to those carrying out the work, including a written risk assessment covering lone working in remote terrain, manual handling, weather exposure, and zoonotic disease risk from handling wild birds. Estates, conservation charities and land agents increasingly ask for this documentation as standard practice.
How it works
1. Describe the activity
Tell us about your site — woodland, moorland or farmland — your daily checking routine, whether you work alone, and the purpose of control (such as wader protection). Mention decoy bird welfare arrangements and terrain conditions.
2. Let the app take the strain
Anyrisks produces a fully written, UK-compliant risk assessment referencing the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, general licence conditions and Animal Welfare Act 2006 duties.
3. Instant download and use
Download as PDF and Word. Keep it on file for your estate, land agent or conservation project, or produce it if requested by an inspecting body. £29, no subscription.
What it covers
Every Larsen trap and corvid control risk assessment is written in full — covering licensing, welfare and lone working hazards.
General licence compliance for corvid control
Daily trap inspection frequency requirements
Decoy bird welfare — food, water, shelter and perches
Humane despatch procedures for captured corvids
Bites, scratches and pecking injuries from birds
Lone working in remote woodland or moorland
Manual handling of traps across uneven terrain
Weather exposure and cold/wet conditions
Tick bites and Lyme disease awareness
Slips, trips and falls on rough ground
Vehicle and quad bike use accessing remote sites
Emergency contact and check-in procedures
Record keeping for licence compliance
Public and dog walker interaction near trap sites
Works for
From upland grouse moors to lowland wader reserves, Anyrisks covers every corvid control context.
What customers say
"I check Larsen traps every morning across the estate for our wader protection scheme. Anyrisks gave me a proper document covering the licence conditions and lone working — something I could actually show the land agent."
Robert F.
Gamekeeper, North Yorkshire moors
"Our reserve runs a corvid control programme to protect nesting curlew. This assessment covered decoy welfare and daily checking in a way our trustees were happy with."
Emma L.
Reserve warden, Norfolk wetlands
"I work alone across a big block of woodland setting and checking traps. Having lone working and terrain hazards written up properly took two minutes instead of an afternoon."
Ian M.
Self-employed pest controller, Scottish Borders
Anyrisks vs DIY templates
| Anyrisks | DIY / Templates | |
|---|---|---|
| Written in full — not a blank form | ✓ | ✗ |
| General licence conditions referenced | ✓ | ✗ |
| Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 duties covered | ✓ | ✗ |
| Decoy bird welfare included | ✓ | ✗ |
| Lone working in remote terrain covered | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tailored to wader protection or grouse moor context | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ready in under 2 minutes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Instant PDF and Word download | ✓ | Sometimes |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licence to use a Larsen trap for corvid control?
Yes — Larsen traps can only be used lawfully under a General Licence issued by Natural England (or the equivalent body in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland) permitting the control of certain corvid species such as carrion crows and magpies for the purpose of conservation of wild birds, including ground-nesting waders. You must check the current general licence conditions before setting traps, as these are reviewed periodically and can be species- or purpose-specific.
What welfare law applies to Larsen trap use?
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes it an offence to use traps that are not approved, and Schedule 6 restricts the methods that can be used to kill or take wild animals. Traps must also comply with the Wild Animals in Traps (Approval) Order and be inspected at least once every 24 hours under general licence conditions, as required to prevent unnecessary suffering under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Does this risk assessment cover daily trap checking duties?
Yes — describe your checking routine, including timing, route across the woodland or moor, and any lone working element, and the assessment will include controls for daily inspection frequency, humane despatch procedures, decoy bird welfare, and recording requirements.
Is lone working in remote woodland covered?
Yes — gamekeepers and wardens routinely check traps alone in remote terrain. Mention that you work alone and the assessment will include lone working controls such as check-in procedures, mobile phone signal considerations, and emergency contact arrangements relevant to remote countryside sites.
What hazards are specific to setting and handling traps?
Key hazards include bites and scratches from live decoy or captured birds, sharp trap components, uneven or wet woodland terrain, exposure to weather, ticks and zoonotic disease risk (such as Lyme disease), and manual handling of trap equipment across difficult ground. The assessment covers each of these with practical controls.
Does the assessment address decoy bird welfare?
Yes — general licence conditions require decoy birds to be provided with adequate food, water, shelter and perches at all times, and to be checked at every visit. The assessment includes these welfare duties as part of the daily checking control measures.
Can this be used for wader protection projects specifically?
Yes — describe the site as a wader protection or ground-nesting bird conservation project and the purpose (protecting species such as lapwing, curlew or redshank from corvid predation) will be reflected throughout, aligning the assessment with the relevant general licence purpose.
How long does it take to generate?
Under 2 minutes. Describe your corvid control activity, site and trap-checking routine, and Anyrisks produces a complete, regulation-referenced Larsen trap and corvid control risk assessment instantly.
Also see: The ultimate guide to risk assessment · Do I need a risk assessment · Risk assessment legal requirements · Risk assessment generator
Give Anyrisks a go today.
You will be delighted with your risk assessment, or your money back.