Professional Trapping

Recently one of our members came across a solution used by Washington State berry growers to combat the European Starling. They organized a cooperative effort and jointly paid a professional group to trap starlings in volume on their properties. Trapping starlings is not a very difficult task because these birds travel in flocks and can easily be caught in large numbers.

For all nature lovers who might be opposed to this method, you should know that the European Starling is not a native species in North America. It was introduced from Europe, and has very negative impacts on our native birds. This species is not protected by the North American Migratory Bird Treaty and is one of a very few bird species that can legally be trapped and disposed of.

This solution in the long run could be one of the best methods for controlling European Starling populations in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia, and it is the kind of solution that a group such as the BC Blueberry Council could and should champion.

Blueberry farming is a “booming” business!