Holyrood committee backs total ban on snares

A Holyrood committee has backed plans to ban the use of snares in Scotland, with environment minister Gillian Martin telling MSPS the devices cause “unacceptable levels of suffering” for animals.

She said banning snares will not stop estates carrying out “necessary wildlife management” as there are “alternative methods” that can be used to control predators.

Scottish Land and Estates, which represents landowners and rural businesses, however warned the move will have an “enduring negative impact” on some threatened bird populations.

It had previously suggested a licensing scheme could be set up to allow for snares to continue to be used where there is no other method that could control creatures such as foxes.

Ross Ewing, the organisation’s director of moorland, made clear the body remains “strongly opposed” to the ban.

Mr Ewing spoke out after MSPS on Holyrood’s rural affairs committee backed an amendment to the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill to ban the devices.

It will come into force if the Scottish Parliament as a whole approves the legislation.

Ms Martin said: “This Parliament can no longer ignore the weight of evidence that snares lead to unacceptable levels of suffering, not just for wild animals, but for domestic animals which can also become trapped in them.

“I recognise that control of predators is necessary in order to protect vulnerable species, as well as livestock and agriculture.

“But I am confident that a ban on the use of snares would not prevent anyone from undertaking necessary wildlife management and that there are still sufficient alternative methods of predator control that can be used.”