Snare ban officially comes into force in 'landmark day' for Scotland

A ban on the use of snares in Scotland has officially come into force in what campaigners are calling a “landmark day” for the country.

The ban – which aims to improve animal welfare and promote humane wildlife management – was introduced in Parliament as part of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 in March 2024, and came into force on Monday.

The law requires licences and training for trap use, while grouse shooting will depend on legal management practices.

Greater powers have also been given to the Scottish SPCA inspectors to tackle wildlife crime.

The practice of muirburn, the burning of vegetation usually in a controlled manner in order to promote growth and maintain open moorland will now also be strictly regulated.

Raptor Persecution UK called the official introduction of the ban a “landmark day for Scotland”.

A spokesperson said: “This is a significant victory for animal welfare campaigners, especially the League Against Cruel Sports, OneKind and Scottish Badgers, but also many others, who have spent decades putting forward evidence that these devices, recently and cynically named ‘humane cable restraints’ by the game-shooting industry, are actually cruel, indiscriminate and inhumane and have no place in modern society.”

Grouse shooting will be dependent on legal management practices under the new law. STV News

Cats Protection called the ban on snares “a turning point” for animal welfare, which will prevent cruelty to pets and wildlife.

Alice Palombo, advocacy and government relations officer for Scotland at the charity, said: “We’ve campaigned for this ban for many years, after seeing too many cats suffering agonising injuries and deaths from being caught in snares.

“Snares are indiscriminate – they will capture and maim any animal unfortunate enough to come into their path. Once trapped, animals – which may be pets or wildlife – often suffer long, painful deaths. The few which manage to escape or are found are likely to be left needing amputation of limbs and life-changing injuries.

“This ban sends a message that cruel and inhumane practices no longer have a place in our society, and we will continue to campaign for snares to be banned across the UK following Scotland’s example.”

The use of snares is already banned in most EU countries and has recently been banned in Wales.

Scottish Green MSP Ariane Burgess called the snare ban a “huge step forward” for animal welfare and Scotland’s iconic nature.

The ban came as an amendment to the Wildlife Management and Muirburn Bill, introduced by Burgess.

The MSP for the Highlands and Islands said: “Nature in our country is world renowned and we need to do all we can to protect it.

“This ban is just one of many changes that are needed, not only to save animals from distress or death, but also to restore our climate and biodiversity.

“We must build on this momentum and keep pushing for even further improvements for all of Scotland’s creatures, great and small.”

The Scottish Gamekeepers Association, which opposed the ban, said the Scottish Parliament had ignored “sound compromises” put forward by professional wildlife managers, pointing to the suggestion to use new-style humane holding devices.

The group said it will continue to monitor the impact the measure has on the predation of rare and conservation-listed species by foxes.

A spokesman said: “We will be monitoring the impacts of this ban closely.

“In a nature emergency, removing one of the most important tools to manage the abundant fox population is not pro-conservation.

“With the Curlew facing global extinction, it will certainly not be thanking the Scottish Parliament for ignoring the sound compromises put forward by professional wildlife managers which would have retained improved, welfare-friendly holding devices.”