A BAN on the use of snares in Scotland is set to come into force next week.
The ban – which aims to improve animal welfare and promote humane wildlife management – was introduced through the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 and will come into force on Monday.
The use of snares is already banned in most EU countries and has recently been banned in Wales.
Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie (below) said snares can lead to “unacceptable” levels of suffering for wild animals.
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He said: “The Scottish Government recognises that control of predators is sometimes necessary in order to protect vulnerable species, as well as livestock and agriculture, and that land managers should be allowed to take action to effectively manage wildlife for these purposes.
“However, there is sufficient evidence to show that snares can lead to unacceptable levels of suffering for wild animals, as well as posing an unacceptable risk to other wildlife and domestic species accidentally caught in them.
“Banning the use of snares will ensure that the Scottish Government continues to meet its commitments to uphold the highest standards of animal welfare.”
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Wildlife campaigner Chris Packham has previously described the legislation as a “gamechanger” which showed Scotland was leading the way with “meaningful change”.
The Wildlife Management and Muirburn Act was introduced to address raptor persecution and ensure that the management of grouse moors and related activities are undertaken in an “environmentally sustainable and welfare conscious manner”.
As well as banning snares, the law bans the use, supply and possession of glue traps and introduces licensing and training requirements for certain other types of wildlife traps.
It will introduce a licensing regime for land used for the shooting of red grouse and licenses all muirburn and bans muirburn on peatland unless for limited purposes.
The bill also contains powers which could give individuals such as Scottish SPCA inspectors the power to investigate some wildlife crime.
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