|
|
|
|
|
|
The BSCG Snaring Debate |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
The BSCG Snaring Debate |
|
||
|
The subject of the use of snares to control so-called pest species is at present being debated in both the UK and Scottish Parliaments and feelings run high on all sides of the argument. Most people seem to agree that the present position is unacceptable but there is disagreement over how far we should go in controlling the use of snares. Some say it is enough to place greater controls on the use of snares and trust the end users to comply. Others argue that even the few existing controls are widely abused and the only way of stopping the cruelty inflicted by snares is to ban them altogether. BSCG has yet to formulate a policy on the use of snares. We hope to debate the subject at one of our meetings soon. Watch the meetings page on this site for details ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHAT THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT PROPOSES IN THE NEW BILL Section D - Species Protection and Wildlife Crime Controls on the Use and Abuse of Snares D47 Section 11 of the 1981 Act regulates methods of killing or taking wild animals and imposes specific requirements relating to the use of snares. Whilst these controls remain broadly effective, we believe it is now time to respond to particular public concern in this area by improving controls on the use of snares and by ensuring that any weaknesses and loopholes in the existing legislation are removed. D48 Free-running (as opposed to self-locking) snares are a legal means of capturing a number of animals - in particular those (such as foxes), which are commonly regarded in the countryside as pest species, and those (such as rabbits) which are both agricultural pests and a source of food. Used in the proper manner, snares can be very effective and they are widely used by farmers and other land managers. D49 Moreover, given that self-locking snares are illegal, non-target species can be released alive, which ensures that any general risk to wildlife is minimised. However, this does depend on snares being checked at least once a day to ensure that trapped animals are not subjected to unnecessary suffering and that non-target species are released promptly. This is already a clearly stated legal requirement. Some land managers evade this responsibility by failing to check snares at least every 24 hours. On the basis of "at least once every day" a snare could, potentially, be left unchecked for almost 48 hours. D50 Animals left in such unattended snares may then die either from starvation, dehydration or from slow strangulation. In such cases it is often impossible to prove that snares are not being visited every 24 hours. The mere presence of a dead animal in a snare does not, at present, prove beyond doubt that a snare has not been regularly checked. It is possible for the accused to claim that the snare was checked but that the animal was discovered to be dead and that it was merely left in place. D51 We firmly believe that snares should remain available to land managers as a legal method of dealing with pest species. But we also believe that the use of snares must be subject to robust safeguards. Snares are not intended for and should not be intentionally used to kill animals. No animal (and not simply those protected under schedule 6 of the 1981 Act) should be allowed to be caught in a snare set in a manner that is deliberately cruel. Thus, the placing of a self-locking snare is already illegal, as it is a device designed or constructed in to prevent the loop formed by the snare loosening automatically when the force exerted to tighten the loop is relaxed. The result is that the loop continuously tightens and this process cannot be reversed, without the intervention of an external party. Although the 1981 Act prohibits the operation of a self-locking snare, possession of such a device (or indeed the simple possession of unauthorised traps and poisoned baits) is not currently prohibited under the Act. Given that the use of such devices is illegal, we believe that there is no legitimate reason for the possession or sale of a self-locking snare. D52 The 1981 Act is also weak at present in that it does not adequately discourage unscrupulous individuals from setting snares on land where they have not been given permission to do so. At present, anti-poaching legislation makes it an offence to set a snare on someone else's property to catch game birds and animals. However, it is possible for an offender to claim that such a snare was targeted at foxes and other pest species. Land managers, such as farmers, as well as sporting estates and conservation organisations, need greater protection from such uncontrolled intrusion and the damage that unregulated and unauthorised snaring can cause. In order to achieve this, we intend to make it an offence both to set a snare on any land without being explicitly authorised to do so, and to be in possession of a snare on land where such authorisation has not been obtained. D53 In order to achieve the twin objectives of preventing unnecessary suffering on the part of wildlife and of deterring the unregulated setting the unregulated setting of snares on land where the owner occupier has not authorised their use, we intend to: - a) Create a new offence of possessing or selling a
self-locking snare. There is widespread disagreement with these proposals. Most wildlife organisations do not think they go far enough and many land managers think they go too far. The following websites give examples. NATIONAL FEDERATION OF BADGER GROUPS REPORT ON THE USE OF SNARES This site offers a 29 page PDF file arguing the case for a total ban on the manufacture and use of all snares. NATIONAL ANTI-SNARING CAMPAIGN This is where to find reports, news, photos and a petition in support of the call for snares to be banned. BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR SHOOTING AND CONSERVATION Their site carries a detailed code of practice for snaring foxes. SCOTTISH GAMEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION The Scottish gamekeepers published a proposed code of practice for snaring but it is not on their website. However, a BSCG member has a copy of their suggestions which other members are welcome to see. BSCG has a large file full of information on the subject and all members are welcome to study it - just email us to make arrangements. IMPARTIALITY The BSCG webmaster has this far allocated equal space on this page to both sides of the argument. The reason only four sites are listed above is he could find very few sites supporting the continued use of snares so could only list a corresponding number in favour of a ban, whereas there are in fact dozens of sites advocating a ban. Virtually all wildlife conservation bodies now support a total ban, having lost patience with those land users that routinely abuse current laws and guidelines and inflict hours of unspeakable torture on wild creatures that are caught in their snares. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
++++++++++ ++++++++++
