The Highland Badger Network

 Protecting badgers in the Scottish Highlands

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The Horror of Snaring

 

This female badger was almost cut in half by a snare.   Her cub died of starvation, waiting to be fed.    It is surely time to ban snares once and for all.


NEW CONSULTATION BY THE SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE ON THE USE OF SNARES

This consultation has now finished but you can still respond by writing to your MSP and tell he or she that if they do not support a complete ban on all snaring then you will vote for someone who does.

The UK is one of only five countries within the European Union that still tolerate the use of snares, the others being Ireland, France, Spain and Belgium. In the other European countries that permit snaring there is a more stringent regulatory regime than is the case in the UK.

 SCOTTISH BADGERS POLICY ON SNARING

The Executive Committee of Scottish Badgers has completed a thorough consultation process with the members of Scottish Badgers to determine whether or not we should continue to tolerate the use of snares.   The membership voted overwhelmingly in favour of Scottish Badgers changing its policy and joining the call for a ban on snares.  The new policy statement was adopted at the Annual General Meeting at Battleby, Perthshire on 15th November 2003, and reads as follows :

"Scottish Badgers is of the opinion that snaring should be banned in Scotland, as it is a cruel and indiscriminate way of capturing and killing animals. It is already illegal to snare badgers, but they are frequently caught in snares set for other animals. 

Banning snares is a long term aim, and in the immediate future Scottish Badgers will work with agencies to mitigate the effects of snaring, and co-operate with the Scottish Executive on new legislation. 

During its life, Scottish Badgers has worked with all appropriate agencies that have an interest in the countryside, and in animal conservation and protection. However, experience has shown us that snaring is indiscriminate and a constant threat to badgers. The current position with regard to "legal" and "illegal" snares is also one that is nonsensical and unworkable. 

For all of these reasons, Scottish Badgers will work towards an eventual ban on the manufacture and use of all snares."

A new consultation on snaring is on its way through the Scottish Executive and Scottish Badgers will do its best to get the best possible result for badgers.

 

 

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