After excitement find:

“Pigeons ran into the traps by themselves”

Two traps with pigeons in them were found in a forest in Braunau.

(Bild: Verein RespekTiere, Krone KREATIV)

Animal welfare activists were shocked when they were called to a forest in Braunau last week. An observant hiker had reportedly found a trap there with a live pigeon as supposed bait. However, the find has no legal consequences, as the "Krone" has now learned.

The activists called to the Braunau Forest then found a second trap, also with live pigeons in it. Tom Putzgruber, chairman of the RespekTiere association, suspected that birds of prey such as hawks had fallen into one of the traps. For the animal rights activist, live bait is cruel: "You can imagine the fear the animals are put in", says Putzgruber.

According to Tom Putzgruber, chairman of RespekTiere, the trap is designed for birds of prey such as hawks, which should land on the grid above the pigeon.

(Bild: Verein RespekTiere)

No investigation proceedings
However, the find will have no legal consequences, as the "Krone" has now learned. Although a charge of cruelty to animals has been filed and investigated against the alleged setter of the traps, "no preliminary proceedings will be initiated", says Alois Ebner from the responsible public prosecutor's office in Ried.

The person concerned claimed that he had set the traps because there was a major rat problem there.

Alois Ebner, leitender Staatsanwalt in Ried

Traps were intended for rats
Reason: "The officers could not determine whether the pigeons were trapped by him or not. In case of doubt, there was no initial suspicion of cruelty to animals." The case is therefore already closed for the judiciary.

The accused had stated that he had set up the trapping structures in the forest because of a rat problem. The pigeons then ran into the traps of their own accord.

The animals were probably released in good health and the traps were removed.