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Report calls for alternatives to snares
‘Glorious Twelfth’ (12 August) marks the start of the grouse shooting season.
Wildlife control methods assessed for humaneness 

A new report is calling for a ban on snaring and instead encourages the use of seven more humane control methods for wildlife.

The report has been released just ahead of the ‘Glorious Twelfth’ (12 August), which marks the start of the grouse shooting season. The League Against Cruel Sports says shooting estates are being ‘propped up by the widespread and unnecessary slaughter of British wildlife’, which is carried out to protect red grouse for shooting.

For the first time, the different methods of animal control have been graded for efficiency, humaneness, and how conservation-friendly they are.

Independent animal welfare consultant Dr Mark Kennedy, who carried out the research, encouraged the use of seven control methods that were rated highly in all three of the above areas. The alternatives are: shepherding, tree guards, ‘novel’ disturbances such as lights or noises, guard animals, habitat management, no control and exclusion fencing.

Other methods rated less highly in each area, but were judged to be potentially acceptable in some cases, if they were properly regulated. These are reproductive control, cage traps, shooting and flushing to guns with two dogs (exempt hunting).

However, ferreting, poison, gassing, snares and hunting (pre- 2004 ban or current illegal hunting with a full pack) are ‘clearly inhumane’. Poison, gassing and hunting are banned in the UK, but snaring and ferreting are legal.

Animal welfare organisations widely condemn snares owing to their indiscriminate nature - they can potentially catch and kill hundreds of thousands of animals a year, including foxes, badgers, hares, deer and even pet cats and dogs, the League says.

According to the charity, snares are used on 27 per cent of landholdings that host shooting, compared to 0.1 per cent of those who do not.

Commenting on the report, Philippa King, the League’s acting CEO, said: “Snares are medieval devices which inflict great suffering on huge numbers of animals, and we’ve been calling for them to be banned for a long time.

“Now we have the evidence which demolishes the shooting industry’s biggest argument in favour of them – that there is no alternative. That can no longer be an excuse – if animal control is required, there are several other methods which are more efficient, friendlier to the environment, and more humane.”

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.