Gamekeeper snared after museum experts study fly larvae

A gamekeeper whose snare led to a badger being electrocuted has been fined £600.

George Allan appeared for sentencing at Aberdeen Sheriff Court having earlier pled guilty to setting a snare and failing to inspect it within 24 hours and failing to fit the necessary identity tags.

The 61-year -old gamekeeper’s snare resulted in the death of a badger, whose head was left partly suspended from a live electric fence.

Forensic entomology experts at the Natural History Museum in London were able to find out the length of time the badger had been caught in the snare by using the larvae found on its body.

An undercover inspector at the Scottish SPCA, who carried out the investigation into Allan, from Skene, Aberdeenshire, said: “The badger’s head was partially suspended from a live electric fence and would have been subjected to a continuous electric current.

“With the assistance of the Natural History Museum in London, forensic entomology was carried out on the fly larvae found on the dead badger.

“The scientist was able to establish the age of the larvae and determined that the badger had remained in the snare for longer than 24 hours.

“This is the first time forensic entomology has been used in a Scottish SPCA investigation and we wish to thank PAW Forensic Working Group for their expertise and financial assistance.”

According to the Wildlife and Countryside Act, snares must be checked at least once a day to make sure no animals are caught in them.

They must also carry identity tags with an identification number allocated to the owner and also state which type of animal the snare is aiming to trap.

It is illegal in Scotland for badgers to be caught in snares.