The snares campaign After decades of campaigning by OneKind and others, the Scottish Government banned snares! The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 introduced a full ban on the use of snares in Scotland. The ban came into force on 25th November 2024, a milestone for wild animal welfare. What are the welfare issues associated with snares? Physical and mental suffering An animal trapped in a snare will be fearful and stressed. They may also suffer from hunger, thirst and exposure and be vulnerable to attacks from other animals. Although designed to trap animals around the neck, snares frequently catch animals round the abdomen, causing deep wounds and internal organ damage. Non-discriminate Snares are indiscriminate to the species that they trap. Prior to the ban, up to 70% of animals caught were non-target species, including badgers, dogs, cats and deer. Pregnant and lactating animals could also become trapped. What were the key steps towards a ban? In 2011, the Scottish Parliament introduced more stringent snaring legislation The Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (WANE) than anywhere else in the UK and committed to reviewing the legislation every 5 years. In 2016, OneKind published a report Cruel and Indiscriminate, analysing the use of snares in Scotland since the 2011 legislation and their impact of animal welfare. In 2016, OneKind submitted evidence to the Scottish Parliament on the true nature and extent of snare use and its effects on animal welfare, based on evidence gathered by OneKind field research and investigations staff. In 2021, the Scottish Government reviewed the snaring legislation. OneKind contributed reports from the SnareWatch to the second review. In 2021, the Scottish Government announced a wider review of the animal welfare impacts of snaring. OneKind has met with officials to make the case for a ban and submitted a joint statement from ten leading animal welfare organisations calling for one. In 2023, the Welsh Government banned the use of snares. The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 introduced a full ban on the use of snares in Scotland, which came into force on 25th of November 2024. What can you do? If you see snares set anywhere in the UK, whether in Scotland and Wales where they are banned or England and Northern Ireland where they aren’t, please tell us about it. Report it here. Manage Cookie Preferences