Nesting Rooks Disturbed: Fine for Bern City Resident

While the intelligent birds are a true wonder of nature for some, others are bothered by the loud cawing of these sociable animals or by droppings on their car or park bench.

Editorial team Wild beim Wild — 31 July 2021

The Federal Court has sentenced a Bern resident to a suspended fine because he rooks during the protected period while they were nesting.

Nests illegally thrown from plane tree

Using a cherry picker, the now 61-year-old threw four to five nests from a plane tree in the Bern district of Breitenrain-Lorraine to the ground.

Berner entfernt illegal Krähennester: Anzeige erstattet

Federal Court confirms ruling

With his unilateral action in March 2018, the man incurred a suspended fine of ten daily penalty units of 100 francs each. The Federal Court confirmed in a ruling published on 14 July 2021 the judgment of the Bern Court of Appeal. The court costs of 3,000 francs are imposed on the appellant.

The act took place during the protected period lasting from 16 February to 31 July and is therefore punishable under the Hunting Act.

The day after the nests were removed, the game warden found eggshells under the tree. This showed that the plane tree had been inhabited by rooks that were already nesting, as established by all instances.

More on the topic of hobby hunting: In our dossier on hunting we compile fact checks, analyses and background reports.