Otter News Archive

Advocates for Animals and the League Against Cruel Sports supporters, dressed as animals, lobbied the public in Galashiels to support their push to outlaw the wire traps.

But rural organisations say snaring is a vital tool in land management.
A joint statement from shooters, land owners and gamekeepers said: "Our passion for Scotland's environment and its wildlife is paramount and we strive constantly to find solutions that balance the needs of welfare with essential management ... Snaring is a vital tool for land managers."

The Scottish Government is deciding whether or not to ban snares and an announcement is expected within weeks.

The UK is one of a minority of European member states that still allow snares to be used.

A 'fox', a 'badger' and an 'otter' handed out information leaflets, campaign postcards and stickers while supporters waved placards in Galashiels' Market Square in the morning.

Advocates for Animals campaigner Joanne Sim said: "People were very much interested.

"We had a good public response with people stopping to sign our petition to ban snaring which will go to the Scottish Government.

We hope our high-profile public campaign will raise awareness that snares are inhumane, indiscriminate and still in use across much of Scotland.

"These are such primitive, cruel and unnecessary traps.

"It's no surprise that the vast majority of people in Galashiels want to see a complete ban on snares.

"We urge people to visit the website www.bansnares.com where they can quickly and easily add their support to our campaign to finally rid the countryside of these cruel traps."

But organisations such as the British Association for Shooting and Conservation Scotland (BASC Scotland) and the Scottish Countryside Alliance (SCA) argue for better training and a strict industry code of practice.
They say: "Snaring is already subject to strict legislation and codes of practice, with penalties for illegal activity.

"However, as an industry we are not complacent and continue to work towards better technology, deliver better training and ensure high standards.

"We believe the best way forward is a strict industry code of practice, enforced diligently by all employers and representative bodies, to ensure that snares continue to be used responsibly. We will also introduce even higher standards of education and training for all those who use snares as a working tool."

But Louise Robertson of the League Against Cruel Sports said: "Surely a modern civilised country should not tolerate the trapping and death of protected species, farmed animals and pets in these devices.

"Our politicians must act to bring Scotland into line with almost every other EU state and we urge the Scottish Government to introduce long-overdue legislation to ban all snaring as soon as possible."

An opinion poll commissioned by the League Against Cruel Sports showed only 19 per cent of people in Lothian and Borders were aware that snares were still legal, most presuming they had already been banned, and 69 per cent of people think they should be banned.

Set to catch foxes and rabbits, the campaigners say any animal is at risk from getting caught in a snare, including protected species such as badgers, otters and mountain hares, other wild animals such as deer, farmed animals such as sheep, and domestic cats and dogs.

Although designed to immobilise their targets, snares can inflict horrendous injury and in many cases cause a painful and lingering death," they say.

The rural organisations say shooting is crucial for Scottish economy.

"Game shooting is vitally important to the economy (worth £240million per year) and culture of rural Scotland and naturally we want to protect game species.

"In order to protect g ame birds, ground-nesting birds and our natural heritage, pests such as foxes and rabbits must be controlled."

They claim both species are becoming 'lamp shy' so shooting them at night is no longer effective.

The snare supporters also say 'crimped stops', which prevent the snare from closing completely, were now in widespread use.

Scientific trials of a new type of snare are said to be taking place and technology developed to alert gamekeepers when snares are triggered and to make the checking process more efficient.

The joint statement from SCA, BASC Scotland, the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association, the Scottish Estates Business Group and the Scottish Gamekeepers Association concluded: "We do, of course, understand that this is a sensitive issue and we are keen to work with the Scottish Government to secure long-term solutions that will address public concerns."

Otter Joy is wholly owned by L.C. Wright and has no affiliation with any organisaiton or body