Spangle caught by fox snare nr public footpath

[Alec Swan]

RE placing of fox snares, they are put in a fox route, which is easily identified by a country person, I am supposing that badgers have their own routes, so it is easy not to snare them.
Rabbit snares are set in rabbit routes and so on.

Whilst wiring bunnies is as you say, a relatively straight forward business, on open grassland, foxes and badgers tend to use the same paths, and they tend to also be the same paths which are used by humans, deer and other game.

All predators tend to be opportunists, and will use the simplest, and the most convenient route through a hedge, ditch or woodland ride. Anyone who tells you differently is talking rubbish!

Alec.

 

[Dry Rot]

Lots of rules and regulations about snares, one being that there ought to be a stop on the snare to prevent it closing beyond a certain diameter, the idea being that they will hold rather than strangle. They also have to be visited regularly at set intervals.


Who enforces these rules and regulations and checks they are visited regularly? the short answer is no one. Snares belong in museums along with man traps.

Reports by the public are so regularly followed up that the police have specialist wildlife units to do it. SEERAD and DEFRA can stop the Single Farm Payment being paid out to those who ignore the law. It is the landowner who is prosecuted for wildlife crime and the guilty gamekeeper often ends up sacked.

 

[Dobiegirl]

Reports by the public are so regularly followed up that the police have specialist wildlife units to do it. SEERAD and DEFRA can stop the Single Farm Payment being paid out to those who ignore the law. It is the landowner who is prosecuted for wildlife crime and the guilty gamekeeper often ends up sacked.

I couldnt stop laughing reading that, you dont actually believe that do you.?

I dont think Ive ever even seen my local policeman. burglarys around here it can take days for the police to attend if at all. As for specialist wildlife units well I know several local farmers reporting people on their land lamping and the police dont want to know.

 

[Nickijem]

I don't like snares at all and i also would have been very upset if one of my spangles had been caught by one. As a spangle owner i fully understand that your dog was completely in control but just off the footpath snuffling at the edge of the wood or in a hedgerow. Its what spaniels do!
However, I am also a regular on a local shoot and i spend many days feeding and caring for the poults so i know how important fox control is. We don't use snares on our shoot but all pens are surrounded by double electric fences and someone will regularly patrol with a rifle.
Bring back fox-hunting and get rid of snares is what I'd like!