Further to this afternoon’s blog about the conviction today of Scottish gamekeeper Thomas Ebner for a snaring offence in April 2023 (here), the Scottish SPCA has issued the following press release:
GAMEKEEPER PLEADS GUILTY TO SNARING FOX
A man has been fined £1,250 and ordered to pay a £75 surcharge for cruelly snaring a fox.
Thomas Ebner, 74, from Reston in the Scottish Borders, pled guilty to setting a snare that could cause unnecessary suffering to any animal that came into contact with it. The snare was located on land belonging to Old Castles Farm in Chirnside.
The fox was caught by the neck and partially suspended on a broken fence line.
Ebner was sentenced at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday, January 20 2025.
Sheriff Paterson remarked, “This is a breach of the act. You knew what you were doing, and the fox suffered. But, I must consider that you have no previous convictions and pleaded guilty.”
The sheriff then fined Ebner £1,250, plus a £75 surcharge.
A Scottish SPCA Inspector from the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said, “The fox was found caught in a snare along a broken fence line by members of the public. It was seen jumping through the fence in considerable distress and foaming at the mouth. The snare was wrapped around a fence post and was blood-stained. The public was able to free the fox from the snare.
“This snare was set in a way that caused suffering to the fox. There was a significant risk of it becoming entangled in the fence, which could have led to strangulation. It was clear that the fox was experiencing both mental and physical distress. The animal was at further risk of injury from surrounding barbed wire and broken wood.
“The snare was set by an individual who had attended an official snare training course, where they were taught the correct way to set snares.
“This is yet another example of the cruel impact snares can have on animal welfare and the unnecessary suffering they cause. We welcome the ban on snares implemented by the Scottish Government.”
A ban on the use of snares came into effect in March 2024 as part of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act.
“We have also been given additional investigative powers to tackle wildlife crime. These powers allow our inspectors, who are already investigating animal welfare offences, to search, examine, and seize evidence.
“The Bill includes various measures to protect wildlife, such as a ban on all forms of snares and glue traps.
“We have long called for an outright ban on snares due to the suffering they inflict on animals, whether used legally or illegally. Animals caught in snares can endure unimaginable physical and mental anguish. Snares are non-selective and can harm both domestic animals and non-target wildlife.”
ENDS
Raptor Persecution UK 
At last, a half decent amount of money to be paid out as a fine. I was half expecting it to be a couple of hundred pounds, but over £1200 might make folk think twice. Out of curiosity, what is the surcharge for and how is it worked out.
I would encourage people to keep in their minds the bit in the SSPCA statement that says…
“The snare was set by an individual who had attended an official snare training course, where they were taught the correct way to set snares. “
And to consider this the next time they hear GWCT, SGA or BASC banging on about how their training negates the need for regulation or interference by others. It is not a question of training as such – it never really has been. It is a question of the priorities and of the humane (or not) ethics of the practitioner.
Setting snares in gaps in fences and under fences and gates is a very efficient way of catching foxes. Always has been, always will be. It is probably the leading way to catch / kill foxes in terms of how little effort is required. It is irresistible for anyone who needs to make the best use of their time, and who isn’t overly bothered about the fate of the creatures that may end up in the snare. Quite likely an experienced fellow of this type could have demonstrated a perfect textbook set-up of “best practice” snaring if he was asked to when on a course. But on ones own ground, where (you think) nobody is ever watching – why piss about doing things in some inefficient fluffy way the GWCT man has tried to tell you? (i e. “teaching your granny how to suck eggs”).
A key guiding principle in much of gamekeeping always was and still is now = Exigency. And the mentality of “just get the [take your pick] snares set/traps set/poison down/cymag down or just get the buggers shot” is still alive and thriving in gamekeeper led “predator control” regards various target species.
[Ed: Andrew, this is your final warning. Stop posting comments that are off-topic & stop posting links to shooting org websites]