Traps

[bruce]

Not sure this has moved the debate/issue forward EMM. Who was the author you referred to (is it you?)

in the hills around Monchique the author refers to his neighbours deep frying small birds caught in the wild

For my part I will take every opportunity to prevent the trapping of these birds and as for going to the GNR with the traps - I went with a friend 2 weeks ago when his property was burgled and ransacked and the lack of interest was underwhelming. Just imagine their enthusiasm for little birds caught in traps

Good for you Shanagarry, lets just hope some small child isn't caught in one of these traps.
Surely the onus is on the owner of this land to have it properly fenced off if he/she doesn't want trespassers!

[EMM]

I think that if the local land owners did fence off their land where would these expats walk their dogs and no doubt we would soon get postings about their ( the owners ) unreasonable behaviour.

The book is a local best seller , i think it is titled a Month in Monchique or something similar, it used to be a reglar feature in the Resident and is an very entertaining read.

[James Faro]

In other expat forums the perceived opinion is that if a property is not fenced off, has some visible border line or a sign saying No Tresspassers(in Portuguese obviously) then it is not tresspass as the alleged encroacher needs to be aware.

If Shanagarry was walking his dog and it escapes into a field and was yelping in severe pain caused by these medieval traps, then arguably he has a case againt the owner. Being Portugal that could take years.

I have visited many rural places in CVO and there are quite a few derelict properties in open fields with dogs and cats roaming. Who knows how many have been caught in these traps! Have they been left to die after being yanked out of the device?

The likelihood is that it is some old man or biddy who have been doing this practice for years. What is part and parcel of life to them is to most people abhorrent! They may not even own the fields they have laid these cruel traps.

I would have no hesitation in throwing these traps away or setting them off. This is hardly going to result in a famine with Bob Geldof being called to organize a concert!

[bruce]

EMM - I think that the expats you seem to dislike so much would have respect for someone else's property and would find somewhere else to walk their dogs.

[davethegreat]

wen in rome etc

[EMM]

Shooting also takes on this land and walkers should be aware of this as they might find that they have much more to worry about than these traps. We avoid these areas on days when hunting is permitted.
A hunter would find it difficult to tell the difference between a rabbit or a small dog running through the grass.

[blue]

In the EU legislation quoted I think the keyword is indiscriminate, clearly these traps can't discriminate between birds, some birds are protected by Portuguese law as well as EU law so the traps should be illegal. I wouldn't take the traps to the GNR you'd probably end up on a charge yourself for damaging/removing property..... but if they were to be accidently broken in situ well accidents happen, I do think the camara & the GNR should be informed though & maybe get the Resdient to print something about it, apart from anything else this will warn other walkers in the area of the potential danger.
I think a lot of the older generation & 'country folk' have the attitude that they've always done things their own way & they will continue to do so whatever the law tells them. Where we live if the council put down speed humps the locals just dig them up if they don't like them & more or less ignore any law that goes against their 'traditional' way of life. Sometimes it's very charming, other times it can be positively lethal.

[EMM]

The traps I have seen ( maybe not these ) were quite flimsy and set over ants nests and aimed at small birds who feed on ants so to that degree there is some targeting of species going on. I have seen a few partridge or quail in this area which may be the target for more substantial traps and the shooters.
As for the Resident do you think that its target readership has any chance of changing Portuguese aititudes or ways of life, better to write to Portuguese language papers.

[Michael Crane]

..... Where we live if the council put down speed humps the locals just dig them up if they don't like them & more or less ignore any law that goes against their 'traditional' way of life. Sometimes it's very charming, other times it can be positively lethal.

Sounds a bit like the Chatsworth!

[blue]

The Portuguese used to allow the trapping of all types of small birds, laws were brought in to protect certain birds including several species of small songbirds.

[James Faro]

There is hope long-term hope about animal welfare in rural Portugal. Those who lay these traps are very likely from the older generation. Today's younger people will find such contraptions barbaric are unlikely to follow suite when they get older. Of course, such trapping methods will still exist even if illegal.

[shanagarry]

We have just got back from our afternoon dog-walk during which we saw for the first time a little bird caught in a trap. I can't for the life of me see how something that small could be eaten and enjoyed. It would just about fit in the palm of my hand.

The four traps that are usually in the area is down to one - as I successfully disabled the others - regretfully I didn't do the same to the one remaining or they've bought replacements. It had also been relocated. I searched to see if there were any others and there wasn't - as far as I could see.

I did notice a small number of small birds fly away as the dog ran around - not something I had noticed previously. Clearly the person responsible for placing these traps knows their target.

Now its war

[James Faro]

Well, full marks to you. What is going on here is not survival for food but a custom(in their eyes) of a person/s killiing small animals for pleasure.

[sam]

When we were looking for a property to buy in the Algarve we were told by one estate agent that land has to be clearly defined and fenced off, or the owner cannot claim trespass. Not sure if this is true.

[EMM]

Could be true as not too far away from the area that as is being discussed a piece of land has had simple posts and tape put up and we have noticed that the locals do not use the paths across it as they once did.
Our neighbours did the same on the plot next to us once they had the camara clear it of rubbish.