Scottish snare ban mooted

The Scottish government has suggested that it would consider a ban on snares when it conducts a forthcoming review.

Màiri McAllan MSP, the Minister for the Environment and Land Reform, said: “I have made clear that when the rules on snaring – which, in Scotland, are currently the tightest in the UK – are reviewed at the end of this year [2021] … I will see that the scope of that is extended to include a potential banning of snares.”

Her comments were seized upon and criticised by rural groups in Scotland.

Dr Colin Shedden, BASC Scotland director, said that as the regulations were the tightest in the UK, there was no case for a statutory ban. He added: “Snaring is a vitally important predator management tool that enables land managers to protect livestock, gamebirds and ground-nesting birds from predation by foxes where other methods of control are not viable.

“A statutory ban on snares would be disastrous for land managers, who are already nervous about further restrictions to fox control that are due to be considered by the Scottish parliament. There is significant concern that the ability to control foxes is being progressively degraded in Scotland, at the expense of livestock, wildlife and rural livelihoods.”

It is understood that any ban would be included in the Fox Control Bill, which goes before the Scottish parliament this year.