Police investigate illegal snares being laid for animals

A still from the footage obtained by the Green Britain Foundation appears to show a snare in use

Police are investigating after undercover footage appeared to show illegal snares being laid in a forest in Denbighshire.

The charity Green Britain Foundation said footage it obtained appeared to show individuals checking and setting snares at a so-called stink pit, where animal carcasses are laid to attract wildlife towards the traps.

The Welsh government made the use of snares and glue traps illegal in October 2023 - the first ban of its kind in the UK.

North Wales Police said it had launched an investigation.

The footage is said to have been taken in Ruabon Moor.

Dale Vince, founder of Green Britain Foundation, said: "Snares are medieval cruelty. Wales and Scotland banned them for good reason.

"Snares are indiscriminate, killing all kinds of wildlife in the most hideously cruel way.

"The police are investigating, and that's welcome."

Mr Vince said snares were often used to kill wildlife in support of bird breeding as part of the business of shooting birds for sport and money.

He called for the UK government to ban snares in England "without further delay".

The Scottish government banned snaring in November 2024.

The footage was obtained by the Green Britain Foundation charity

The footage first documented four live snares, arranged around a stink pit, on 28 June.

Covert cameras then recorded visits by people who appear to be checking and adjusting the snares between 30 June and 15 August, with the carcasses of red-legged partridges logged at the stink pit on 25 July.

North Wales Police said it was notified by the Green Britain Foundation on 25 August and officers attended the scene.

A police spokeswoman said: "Officers from the North Wales Police Rural Crime Team are investigating the alleged use of illegal snares in a wooded area.

"The investigation is ongoing."