Animal campaigners renew call for ban on snaring

Advocate for Animals launched their Snare Free campaign outside the Scottish Parliament.

The charity hopes to persuade the Scottish Government to adopt a ban.

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham has previously ruled out a ban, saying the practice "remains essential to countryside management".

Campaigners highlighted their cause by bringing a dog to the Scottish Parliament that survived being caught in a trap.

Monty was found by owner Jill Flye, of West Lothian, struggling to free a leg from a noose.

Ms Flye said: "Our politicians really must ban snares and make our countryside safer for all animals - domestic and wild."

Labour MSP Sarah Boyack and SNP backbencher Christine Grahame turned up to support the campaigners.

A spokesman for the charity said: "It's great to have a campaign launch and we look forward to creating the reality of a snare-free Scotland."

Rules governing the way animals can be snared came into force earlier this year despite a campaign to have them outlawed.

By law snares must be checked at least once a day, nooses must not be tightened beyond a certain point and the traps must be anchored to stop them being dragged by a captured animal.

The traps must not be left in a way that could suspend or drown an animal.

Anti-snaring groups hope MSPs will be able to ban the practice by amending the new Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill, introduced to Parliament last month.

Libby Anderson, policy director with the charity, said: "The vast majority of people in Scotland would welcome our country becoming free of snares, which are outdated, inhumane and indiscriminate traps.

"Our politicians must listen to public opinion and seize this opportunity to bring our laws up to date by ending the use of snares and leading the way for the rest of the UK."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The Scottish Government carried out a thorough review and concluded that snaring should be retained as an essential tool for pest and predator control.

"Proposals in the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill will see improved standards in the setting of snares as snaring operators will have to undertake compulsory training.

"Technical changes to the snare will also mean that non-target species will be able to be released unharmed."