Snare traps set around ponds .

[Trev]

Hey ,
Just spent a couple of nights on a permission and whilst on a wander found some snares laid around a pond . Any idea what they would be for ?
Cheers , Trev .

 

[Oblio13]

How large were the loops, how high off the ground were they, and what sort of trails were they in?

 

[Shewie]

What sort of size Trev, would they be big enough for Mink ?

 

[3bears]

maybe I'm puttign two and two together and getting 5.... Otter, though I'm pretty sure it's highly illegal?

the only other one that springs to mind is snaring rat, maybe water water bird's eggs?

 

[Trev]

They where quite large and attached to stakes driven into the ground on the pond edge .

 

[Trev]

Unfortunately we discovered the snares due to a dying badger which we had to despatch . First time my mate had ever seen a badger ( he was perturbed ) . Could it have been for foxes ?

 

[Trev]

Hard to tell the trails , lots of cow footprint . and very boggy .

 

[Bothwell_Craig]

Unfortunately we discovered the snares due to a dying badger which we had to despatch . First time my mate had ever seen a badger ( he was perturbed ) . Could it have been for foxes ?

Can I ask that you report the badger caught in the snare to your local Police office please

 

[Bushwhacker]

Probably for mink but it sounds rather non-selective. Cage traps would've been better.

 

[Damascus]

If you say they are largish and are high they could be for Fox, if the pond is shot over (Flight pond), old foxy knows it gets fed and waits for the birds to come in and takes the, hence the snares, What was the snare made of steel cable or brass wire and what did the running end look like?

 

[Bothwell_Craig]

Probably for mink but it sounds rather non-selective. Cage traps would've been better.

I know of no one with an ounce of sense or knowledge that would use snares to control mink.

Anyone?

 

[techworm]

someone might be trying to snare the ducks?

 

[ArkAngel]

I would be asking the landowner of the permission if he knows why. If he doesn't then it's time to contact the relevant people

 

[JonathanD]

Sounds indiscriminate placing snares around a water source like that. I think I'd report it to be honest, sounds dodgy.

 

[littlebiglane]

I would have thought that laying snares on a fairly species specific run would be the best way to catch the animal you want. By placing it on trails, that are used my many species, such as those leading to watering holes you are being fairly indiscriminate I would have thought. You could catch anything and if they are not being checked then inhumane aswell. However I am no trapper just a tracker.....

 

[JonathanD]

Any chance you can get a pic of these set-ups?

 

[nuggets]

was the dying badger in a snare ??? The `cow` prints round the water hole might be an indication to who set them - TB in cattle an all that ???

 

[JonathanD]

was the dying badger in a snare ??? The `cow` prints round the water hole might be an indication to who set them - TB in cattle an all that ???

That thought crossed my mind.

 

[Bothwell_Craig]

That thought crossed my mind.

A Badger in a snare, whilst not illegal to have been caught, should be released and what you have found should also be reported to the Police for the explicit information of your local Wildlife and Environmental Crime officer. You should NOT be dispatching it yourself, however well meaning (and I have no doubt that it was entirely)

What was done with the carcass afterwards? It is an offence to posses a dead badger.

Depending on a number of factors, where and how the snares have been set, the type of snare used, evidence of when the snares were last checked, who set the snares etc. there could be an offence committed.

 

[mountainm]

Is it a well stocked pond? Well fished, day ticket venue? There's a lot of Otter hatred being stirred up amongst the fishing fraternity as some are being released without consultation just down the road from fisheries and they can decimate valuable stocks.

Just a thought.