Crow bounty cruel and ridiculous.

by Rahood Tue Nov 06, 2007 14:32

The Effect of Hooded Crows on Hill Sheep Farming in Argyll, Scotland: Hooded Crow Damage to Hill Sheep
David Houston
The Journal of Applied Ecology, Vol. 14, No. 1 (Apr., 1977), pp. 17-29
doi:10.2307/2401823.

Abstract:

(1) Crows are blamed by sheep farmers for killing lambs and, to a lesser extent, for attacking the eyes of trapped ewes. (2) Crow damage to `couped' or trapped ewes caused only slight economic damage. (3) Crow predation on lambs was evaluated in comparison with other causes of lamb mortality. A survey of the causes of death, excluding crow predation, showed that out of 297 lambs found dead on the hill the major causes of death were starvation (48%), still-birth (22%) and disease (9%). (4) Crows attacked 48% of lambs found dead on the hill. Examination of the wounds showed that only 17% of these lambs were alive when attacked. The body condition of the latter showed that in most cases the lambs had exhausted their fat reserves and were on the point of starvation before being attacked. Crows did not select healthy lambs, and the range of body condition of lambs attacked was similar to lambs dying without being attacked. (5) In most cases crows killed only lambs that would die anyway. About one in 850 lambs born were healthy lambs which would-probably have survived had there not been a crow attack.

Ludicrous indeed....facts beat emotion every time.

by Yawn Tue Nov 06, 2007 14:43

Also the vast majority of lambs attacked by crows would not be included in those figures as they don't die. Crows often attack the eyes of the lambs and while seriously wounding them don't kill them.

Of course for the animal rightsers this is part of the beautiful circle of life and shows how noble animals are while illustrating how humans who shoot crows are evil sadistic scum.

by little bo peep Tue Nov 06, 2007 17:40

I'm glad to hear that the majority of lambs manage to live full and free lives without the risk of any kind of maltreatment or risk of being killed in infancy, and that all of us, crows, lambs and carnivores can live in harmony together.

by Joe Wed Nov 07, 2007 11:41

Forget the Grey Crows, what about the Grey Squirrels which are creating havoc in our
native woodlands and are driving the Red Squirrel to extinction.
Put a bounty on these Greys and forget about the few miserable sheep which will die anyway.

But then, are there any votes in squirrels?