After decades of campaigning by OneKind and others, the Scottish Government banned snares!

The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill, which was passed by the Scottish Parliament in March 2024, will introduce a full ban on the use of snares in Scotland.

What are the welfare issues associated with snares?

Physical and mental suffering

An animal trapped in a snare will be fearful and stressed. They may also suffer from hunger, thirst and exposure and be vulnerable to attacks from other animals.

Despite being designed to be free-running, snares frequently become twisted as the animal struggles and become self-locking , leading to strangulation or terrible injuries.

Although designed to trap animals around the neck, snares frequently catch animals round the abdomen, causing deep wounds and internal organ damage.

Non-discriminate

Snares are indiscriminate to the species that they trap. Up to 70% of animals caught are non-target species, including badgers, dogs, cats and deer. Pregnant and lactating animals may also become trapped.

What progress has been made towards a ban?

• In 2011, the Scottish Parliament introduced more stringent snaring legislation The Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (WANE) than anywhere else in the UK and committed to reviewing the legislation every 5 years.
• In 2016, OneKind published a report Cruel and Indiscriminate, analysing the use of snares in Scotland since the 2011 legislation and their impact of animal welfare.
• In 2016, OneKind submitted evidence to the Scottish Parliament on the true nature and extent of snare use and its effects on animal welfare, based on evidence gathered by OneKind field research and investigations staff.
• In 2021, the Scottish Government reviewed the snaring legislation. OneKind contributed reports from the SnareWatch to the second review.
• In 2021, the Scottish Government announced a wider review of the animal welfare impacts of snaring. OneKind has met with officials to make the case for a ban and submitted a joint statement from ten leading animal welfare organisations calling for one.
• In 2023, the Welsh Government banned the use of snares.

The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill, which was passed by the Scottish Parliament in March 2024, will introduce a full ban on the use of snares in Scotland. The ban will come into force later this year. 

What can you do?

If you believe snares should never be used, please find your MP on writetothem.com and tell them you support a full ban on snares, with no exceptions.

Above all, if you see snares anywhere and want to tell someone about it, please report it here.

More information on snares can be found in the OneKind guide to hunting, trapping and wildlife persecution in Scotland.