Pole trap
An illegal and remarkably cruel trap mounted on the top of a pole. When any large bird lands on the pole the jaws snap shut, crushing the bird's legs. Despite the comparatively enlightened attitude towards animals which now prevails in the British Isles, and despite its cruelty and illegality, the pole trap is still widely used to destroy certain types of raptor, which are themselves covered by the bird protection laws.From Peter Weaver's Birdwatcher's Dictionary
Copyright © 1981 by Peter Weaver