Charity criticises delay in implementing snaring regulations
A leading animal welfare charity has described the delay in implementing new snaring regulations in Scotland as a “farce”. Much of the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act, which was passed in March this year, will be commenced on 1st January 2012. However, requirements for training and record keeping for snare users won’t become law until January the following year.
Section 13 of the Act covers the use of snares and includes measures to regulate their use. These include ensuring all snares have stops to prevent them tightening beyond a certain circumference and ensuring the snare is securely staked to the ground or heavy object so it cannot be dragged away by the captured animal.
The part of the Act which applies to training, identity tagging for snares and record keeping will not become law now until January 2013 – almost two years after the law was passed by the Scottish Parliament. League spokesperson Louise Robertson said: “There is no reason to delay this section of the Act further as snare users have had plenty of time to undergo training and make themselves law abiding. It is an absolute nonsense particularly given the training is being provided by non UKAS accredited trainers and with no veterinary or animal welfare advice included in course”.
A snare is a thin wire noose used mainly on sporting estates to protect game birds from predators. They are intended to kill foxes and rabbits but in many cases catch other species including badgers, otters, livestock and domestic cats and dogs. A snare can cause horrific suffering and in many cases a slow and painful death.
The League campaigned for a complete ban on the use of all snares and supported an amendment to the Bill which would make snaring illegal. This was unsuccessful and the Scottish Parliament voted for regulations. These will be reviewed in December 2016.
ENDS
1. On the 1st November 2011 Elaine Murray MSP tabled a question on accreditation of snaring training providers. The question and the answer can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx?SearchType=Advance&ReferenceNumbers=S4W-03741&ResultsPerPage=10
2. Section 13 of the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 can be found at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2011/6/part/2/crossheading/snares/enacted
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