Snaring.

OneKind the animal welfare charity based in Scotland and run by the excellent Bob Elliot has recently published its latest report on snares and the damage that they cause to wildlife and domestic animals which can be read here.

We do not propose to add much to what they say. Most animal welfare organisations are opposed to any snaring and many have been campaigning for a ban for years. There is however one view that we think needs to receive greater publicity than it has done in the past. It is set out below.

“Fox snares are an imperfect tool. They have the potential to catch non-target species and to cause tremendous suffering in captured and escaping animals.” The authors of the previous statement are The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) who describe themselves as “a leading UK charity conducting conservation science to enhance the British countryside for public benefit.” If this is the view of an organisation that supports snaring and states that “For over 80 years we have been researching and developing game and wildlife management techniques.” then surely there is no question that snares should be banned?

The Scottish Government is currently reviewing the law on snares and has said it does not exclude the possibility of a total ban on their use.

If you believe that devices that ” have the potential to catch non-target species and to cause tremendous suffering in captured and escaping animals.” have no place in the countryside then please let your Member of the Scottish Parliament know. You can locate them by entering your postcode here.