The Scottish SPCA is appealing for information after two dead badgers were found in illegal snares in Lanarkshire.
The Society’s special investigations unit was alerted to an incident in Airdrie on Sunday, July 5, in the Lilly Loch area.
Another incident was also discovered in Motherwell on Wednesday, July 8, at the football pitch behind the bowling club in Cleland.
From 2018 to 2019, the charity dealt with almost 60 incidents involving animals caught in snares. The majority of these animals were dead on arrival.
Scotland’s animal welfare charity supports an outright ban on all snares due to the level of suffering an animal is caused.
The snares that killed the badgers were illegal as both had been set on a fence line.
This is unlawful due to the risk of an animal trapped being wholly or partially suspended which can lead to severe unnecessary suffering.
The snares also did not have a ‘stop’ which does not allow the device to tighten after a certain point.
All snares are legally required to have an identification tag but this was absent on both devices.
The snare in Motherwell was made out of nylon which is an illegal material for use in snares.
Scottish SPCA special investigations inspector, who cannot be named due to undercover operations, said: “Snare operators must check on the device every 24-hours and this was not the case in these incidents. The badger in Airdrie had been dead for two or three months and in Motherwell, the animal had been deceased for longer than the legal timeframe.
“The badger found in Airdrie must have passed under the fence and become caught in the snare under its front legs.
“It must have panicked as the snare was wrapped around it several times meaning it was trying to escape by passing under the fence again and again, constricting it further and further.
“This would not have been a fast death. The level of pain and distress caused to the badger would have been unimaginable.
“In Motherwell, the badger there had a faster, but still agonising, death. It must have passed under the fence and was caught around the neck. In its attempt to escape, the snare was further wrapped around its neck during the struggle. We suspect the cause of death to be asphyxiation.
“People need to remember that these devices cause not only physical torture but mental anguish for any animal caught in them.
“These areas are popular with dog walkers so we would ask that anyone with pets in the areas are vigilant. Snares are indiscriminate and domestic animals such as dogs and cats can also be caught in them. It is illegal for anyone to tamper with a legally set snare so we would ask the public not to attempt this. If someone suspects a snare is set illegally then they should contact us immediately.
“We’ve been working closely with our partners at Police Scotland on these wildlife crimes and both agencies are keen to find those responsible.
“We’d also like to thank the owners of the land in Airdrie, Premier Woodlands, who have been fully cooperative and are keen to find those responsible.
“If anyone has any information on whoever may have set these snares or if anyone finds what they believe to be an illegal snare, we would urge them to phone our animal helpline immediately on 03000 999 999. All calls can be treated confidentially.”
