Following yesterday’s news that Environment Minister Gillian Martin MSP is pressing on with a proposed full ban on all snares, with no intention of including a licensing scheme (here), the game-shooting industry has reacted with predictable fury.
Imagine being angry about banning a device that can cause so much suffering and distress to any animal unfortunate to encounter it.
Although to be honest, their fury seems to derive from the fact that they didn’t get their way. This self-entitled retort from grouse moor lobby group Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) is quite telling:
“Perhaps what is most exasperating is the timing of this decision – which comes just 24 hours after representatives of Scotland’s land management community gave evidence to the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee on the subject.
“It is not unreasonable to suggest that any meaningful consideration of that evidence at the Ministerial level would take longer, and it rather feels like yesterday’s evidence session was a meaningless exercise. It is especially frustrating given the time, effort and preparation that goes into engaging with the democratic process“.
What SLE fails to comprehend is that the issue of snaring has been in front of Scottish Ministers time and time and time again, over a period of many years.
The argument that snares are inherently cruel isn’t a new one and the current Environment Minister hasn’t just made up her mind in a 24 hour period, as suggested by SLE. She has spent several months examining the evidence since her appointment in June 2023 and, rather graciously I thought, allowed SLE additional time to present a last-ditch proposal for the licensing of snares.
That proposal wasn’t good enough, clearly (and as I’ve written previously, it didn’t offer anything new anyway) and the evidence session on Wednesday simply repeated all the previous arguments without bringing anything new to the table. Oh, apart from an apparent ‘survey’ of 129 land managers which resulted in a claimed 98% of them believing that a snare ban would be bad for biodiversity. That’s not compelling evidence, I’m afraid, and given how the industry still refers to snare victims as ‘vermin’, their claimed concern for ‘biodiversity’ isn’t credible either.
A ban on snares will not prevent gamekeepers from killing foxes. In some, limited circumstances, there is justification for some form of control (although I don’t accept that the protection of gamebirds is justifiable) but there is simply no justification whatsoever for killing them in such a brutal, barbaric manner as snaring.
The bigger picture, as mentioned by OneKind’s CEO Bob Elliot during Wednesday’s evidence session, and which should really be the focus of attention, is the release of millions of non-native gamebirds into the countryside for shooting, and the management of land to create artificially high numbers of red grouse, also for shooting. If the industry sorted that out then perhaps the density and abundance of foxes in these areas wouldn’t be so high.
Here’s the astoundingly arrogant letter sent to the Minister by SLE yesterday, in response to her decision to ban all snares:
Meanwhile, the Scottish Government has published its analysis of the consultation responses held over the summer, in which it sought the public’s views on a snare ban and on extending the powers of the Scottish SPCA. The headlines are that 70% of respondents agreed with the proposal for a ban on ALL snare types (including so-called ‘Humane Cable Restraints’) and 73% of respondents did not want any exceptions to a full ban on the use of snares:
Also just published is further evidence from the Scottish SPCA, as requested during Wednesday’s evidence session, on the number of recent snaring incidents in Scotland, which show that non-target species continue to be caught and injured in snares, including snares that have been legally, as well as illegally, set:
Raptor Persecution UK 
Purely throwing their toys out of the pram because they didn’t get their own way; just like a spoilt child, as many of them seem to be the way they carry on.
Snares are cruel, barbaric and indiscriminate in what is snared. It could easily be someone’s pet dog.
As for ‘a snare ban would be bad for biodiversity’, I really don’t see how they can explain that reason for snares being allowed. And I’m sure there will still be many illegal snares set even after this ruling by the Environment Minister Gillian Martin MSP.
These people have controlled the debate for too long – that’s why 1 in 9 species in Scotland face extinction and 35.6% of vertebrates are at risk. Their arguments are driven by an “ideology” not evidence – the ideology of patriarchal control of the countryside by a minority represented by self-interest.
The fact that they delivered this so quickly, suggests they knew this was a likely outcome. Seems like a toddler throwing a tantrum
Ross Ewing should have had somebody mark his homework before he posted the letter.
“Today is a dark day for biodiversity, wildlife and rural livelihoods.”
1. The impact on biodiversity will be zero. So this would be a lie. [Ed: I’m not sure it’s a lie, more of an unsubstantiated claim]
2. Wildlife will no longer be made to suffer and die. So really its a good day for wildlife.
3. How many people have been made redundant or suffered wage cuts? None yet and as long as drunken people are alowed to kill things for fun…highly unlikely.
“meanwhile the red fox range continues to expand”? Really? Has mainland Scotland got bigger?
But its good to note SLE’s willingness to work as key delivery partner in response to the biodiversity crisis. Presumably they will be willing to engage with positive actions like stopping muirburn and curtailing the release of non-native species? I’m sure thats what the minister was talking about.
But they have shown a remarkable degree of insincerity and a lack of engagement to date.
I note that in listing the birds that would be predated by foxes they don’t mention any game birds. In that case there is never a need to kill foxes near pheasant pens is there?
No doubt the naming of the Hen Harrier ensures it will be bought up in future, ‘well of course they are declining, you wouldn’t let us use snares’.
It is a bit strange though, a government minister that listens to the majority rather than the rich. I hope that holds for stage 2 since it sounds like they will come out all guns blazing (with lead of course).
“Oh, apart from an apparent ‘survey’ of 129 land managers which resulted in a claimed 98% of them believing that a snare ban would be bad for biodiversity. That’s not compelling evidence, I’m afraid, and given how the industry still refers to snare victims as ‘vermin’, their claimed concern for ‘biodiversity’ isn’t credible either.”
I believe the form with a claim like that is “Citation needed”. Folk “believe” all manner of weirdnesses, which is why we need science and evidence and all that class of thing. I’m sure the shooting lobby must have such evidence, as they would have presented it to the relevant bodies, wouldn’t they?
Can’t see Ross Ewing being in a job much longer, His predecessor’s would never have left it to the day before to put in an amendment. All deliberating parties would have been wined, dined and given a free day out touring the best estates, their heads would have been turned long before. I’ve been here long enough to know not to celebrate anything until it’s finalised. fingers crossed this get’s done before another cabinet reshuffle, Election or anything else that can cause yet another delay
The snare is cruel and abhorrent xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx can’t understand this behaviour. Like previously stated calling wildlife and living critters vermin is not a term that should be used if you are supposed to be protecting wild life and the countryside.
Put in a comment the day before and expect the whole proceedings to be delayed as a result?
Do I detect a hint of Landowners’ arrogance here? Surely not?
Have thanked Gillian Martin and my SNP MP as they get plenty brickbats and they deserve credit for this advance.
A typical and expected bout of hair pulling and raving from the “countryside” lobby perhaps they should note these cruel indiscriminate traps are banned in most other places and have been for a long time.