Scotland’s leading animal campaigns charity, OneKind, has released a new report, SnareWatch Annual Report 2021: Case studies of snare use in the UK, which highlights some of the worst snaring, or suspected snaring, incidents in the UK during 2021.

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The report encompasses snaring incidents involving species snares are intended to catch, such as foxes, and other species such as badgers, deer, dogs, and cats.

Snares cause considerable physical and mental suffering to the animals trapped in them yet are still legal across Scotland and the UK. However, the Scottish Government is currently considering snare use in Scotland and a ban on the use of these archaic traps could be a real possibility.

OneKind Campaigner, Eve Massie, said:

“Our latest snaring report, SnareWatch Annual Report 2021: Case studies of snare use in the UK, highlights the cruelty of snares and why a ban on these archaic traps is crucial.

“Snares can cause the animals trapped in them considerable physical and mental suffering and yet unbelievably these cruel devices are still legal in the UK. Animals may suffer from deep wounds, internal organ damage or even death due to being trapped in snares. Trapped animals are also likely to become fearful and emotionally distressed.

 

“Several of the reported cases involved non-target species, such as cats, dogs, badgers, and roe deer. The range of species caughtis shows that not only are snares cruel, but they are also indiscriminate. Indeed, up to 70% of all animals caught in snares are not of the species snares are set for.n-target species.

“In one particularly upsetting case, a driver stopped to attend to a cat who had been struck by a car. It was then she then realised that the cat had a deep, exposed wound on his neck that looked to be caused by a wire that was believed to be a snare. Sadly, the cat did not survive his injuries.

“In another eerie case, patches of blood stained the snow beside 8 set snares in Cumbria. A fox had been found in one of the snares the day below and reported to RSCPA, but sadly the fate of the fox is unknown.”

On OneKind’s snare reporting website, SnareWatch.org, Eve said:

“Since 2011 we have been appealing for reports about snares from members of the public through our snare reporting tool website SnareWatch.org. By highlighting snaring incidents in our latest report, we aim to show how commonplace snaring is in the UK and just how much suffering these cruel and outdated traps can inflict upon animals.”

On the Scottish Government’s current review of snaring, Eve continues:

“The Scottish Government is currently reviewing the use of snares in Scotland, including a potential ban on their use. OneKind believes that there should be a complete ban on the use and sale of snares in Scotland and welcomes the Minister for Environment and Land Reform, Mairi McAllan, seriously considering this possibility.”

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Notes to Editor

1. OneKind is a Scottish animal protection charity based in Edinburgh.
2. For further information please contact Eve Massie Bishop on 0131 285 9859 or [email protected]