A cruel gamekeeper left a fox foaming from the mouth and suspended by the neck in horror snare incident.
Thomas Ebner, from Reston in the Borders, admitted setting the trip which left the animal caught by the neck and partially suspended on a broken fence line on land belonging to Old Castles Farm in Chirnside.
The 74-year-old was sentenced at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday after he pled guilty to “setting a snare that could cause unnecessary suffering to any animal that came into contact with it”.
Sheriff Paterson said: “This is a breach of the act and you knew what you were doing and the fox was caused suffering, but I have to take into account that you have no previous convictions and pled guilty.” The sheriff then fined Ebner £1,250, plus a £75 surcharge.
A Scottish SPCA Inspector from the Special Investigations Unit said that the fox was found caught in the 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 Inspector said: “It was clear that the fox was experiencing both mental and physical distress. The animal was also 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.”
The ban on the use of snares came into effect in March 2024 as part of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act. It applies to all forms of snares and glue traps and was introduced to protect wildlife and reduce the suffering caused to animals by the traps. In the past, there have been cases where foxes have been caught in snares that caused unnecessary suffering.
The SSPCA Inspector added: “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.”
A snare is a thin wire noose used for catching a wild animal. It is most commonly used for capturing foxes, rabbits and other wildlife on shooting estates.
In 2022, Scottish ministers were urged to finally ban the “cruel and unnecessary” traps after an expert group recommended the move on animal welfare grounds.
The SNP had previously rejected calls for an outright ban claiming there are a lack of suitable alternatives, but the issue was revisited when the Scottish Greens, who supported the ban, joined Nicola Sturgeon’s government.
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