fox snares

[Guest COMPUTER HUNTER]

could someone tell me what the laws are on fox snaring now thanks

[john b 38]

Try this

 

 

 

http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countrysi.../snares-cop.pdf

[Guest COMPUTER HUNTER]

i cant get on the link i got to download it and everything is it legal thats all i want to know thanks

[john b 38]

Oh come on CH it's not that hard.

 

 

 

Here is an extract from the DEFRA best practice guide - don't all start on me about the washing the snares bit either

 

 

 

Legal obligations for snare users in England and Wales

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 it is an offence to set in position

any trap or snare calculated (intended) to cause bodily injury to any wild

animal included in Schedule 6 of that Act which comes into contact with it, or

to use a trap or snare for the purpose of killing such a wild animal; relevant

species listed in Schedule 6 include badger, polecat, otter, red squirrel,

hedgehog and pine marten. Snaring of protected species is not permitted

unless the person has been authorised by a specific licence under section 16

of the Act.

The Deer Act 1991 makes it an offence to set in position any trap or snare

calculated to cause bodily injury to any deer coming in contact with it, or to

use any trap or snare for the purpose of killing or taking any deer.

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 the use of a ‘self-locking’ snare

is unlawful; only free-running snares can lawfully be set. The term self-locking

is not defined in the Act and there has been no successful prosecution within

a court high enough to clarify the law by legal precedent.

A free-running snare is a wire loop that relaxes when the animal stops pulling,

whilst a self-locking snare is a wire loop that continues to tighten by a ratchet

action as the animal struggles. However, as there is no clear legal definition of

either term, whether a snare is self-locking essentially becomes a question of

fact. There are snares that could act as either free-running or self-locking

depending upon how they are set and a free-running snare may in practice

act as a self-locking snare if, for example, it becomes rusty or is twisted and

kinked by the movements of the trapped animal.

Snaring foxes

In order to comply with this Code of Practice, snares must be set only at sites

likely to be used by foxes. This will maximise the chances of capture and

minimise the risk to non-target species. Snares must not be set where there is

evidence of regular usage by non-target species. Close physical inspection of

the site and field-craft will help determine whether non-targets are also using

the site (see below).

As well as the actual sighting of a fox, signs that indicate their presence

include:

• Fox tracks (footprints)

• Long reddish brown hairs caught on bramble, twigs or wire

• Strong musty smell on prominent objects such as stones, protruding

twigs etc., the smell is most noticeable in warm conditions and

especially in late winter/early spring

• Droppings (‘scats’), with a musty odour and usually in prominent places

but never in pits, latrines or dung scrapes

• Food remains, portions of food may be lightly buried and carry a strong

smell of fox urine, remains of birds include quills of larger feathers

characteristically sheared off as though cut with a knife.

Snares must only be used as a restraining rather than a killing device. Snares

should be set in open sites such as field edges, tramlines, along runs, trails or

tracks, such as vehicle tracks, where foxes are likely to travel through. They

must not be set in sites cluttered by obstacles such as saplings, hedges,

walls, fences or gates, which increase the risk of injury as a result of the

snares becoming entangled.

Preparing snares for use

Maximising the efficacy of snares will mean fewer snares will need to be set

and this will also help to minimise the risk to non-target species. To this end,

efforts should be made to reduce the chances of their detection by target

species.

Some have recommended the following procedures to minimise chances of

snare detection:

That the manufacturer’s lubricant, the scent of the lubricant and the shine of

new snares are removed by placing new snares in a large pan with boiling

water and a small amount of automatic (low froth) washing powder for one

hour, removing any residue on the surface. After one hour the snares should

be boiled for another hour in a pan of boiling water with chips of oak bark, oak

leaves and tea (bags or leaves) and be left to stand in the cooling water for 24

hours. This will stain the snares and disguise them making them less

detectable to foxes and rabbits.

That to re-wax snares, paraffin wax, which has very little odour, should be

used after the boiling process. Mineral oil or aerosol lubricant should not be

used. Snares handled regularly for resetting should be re-boiled regularly to

remove the scent of humans. Once snares are prepared for use they should

be handled as little as possible and kept away from sources of strong scents.

New snares should be re-boiled and re-located to another site after their first

week or so of use. If there is evidence of a near miss, such as the snare being

knocked or drawn up and fur left behind, then the snare should be replaced

with a fresh, scent free one a few metres along the trail.

The greater the number of snares in operation the greater the chances of

capturing foxes but this should be weighed against the greater time necessary

to inspect, maintain and set the snares, and the increased risk of non-target

captures. For this reason the use of snares is usually concentrated in periods

when alternative methods are not viable (e.g. when vegetation cover prevents

shooting) and when the benefits of fox removal are greatest, such as at

nesting time and when poults are released.

How to set snares to capture foxes

1. Free running snares must be used, and these must have a 'permanent

stop' fixed approximately 9" (23cm) from the eye of the snare.

2. The bottom of the loop should be at least 7-7.5" (15/18cm) above level

ground and up to 12†(30cm) in open ground. On banks the height of

the loop can be increased up to 9" (22 cm). In other situations the

height may be modified to reduce non-target captures.

3. Snares should incorporate a strong swivel near the anchor point and

also at a position closer to the noose. The wire must not be less than

460lbs (208 kilos) breaking strain. To avoid animals escaping while still

entangled in the snare, with potentially serious welfare consequences,

the fastenings should be designed so that the weakest point is at the

eye.

4. Snares should be supported by a suitable 'tealer' or set-stick pushed

firmly into the ground. Tealers made from stiff wire are easy to conceal,

set and make.

5. Snares must be firmly anchored so that they can on no account

become free (because of the great risk to welfare that this would

cause). Drags should not be used.

6. You must ensure that snares are free running at the time they are set

and remain so during their use. Snares that are frayed or damaged

must be disposed of safely.

7. Avoid leaving scent on the snare and the area around the snare by

rubbing your hands with soil and wearing clean rubber boots. Set the

snare whilst standing or crouching rather than kneeling down.

8. Try not to disturb the run and try not to broaden it.

9. You must adapt your procedures for setting snares in the light of

experience, particularly to minimise the risks to non-target species (see

below).

[Guest COMPUTER HUNTER]

cheers john