By Debbie James

A ban on the use of snares to trap foxes and rabbits on Welsh farmland is likely if farmers and gamekeepers breach the rules governing their proper use.

In Scotland, snares must have safety loops fitted and their personal identification number must be displayed on individual snares.

In Wales, where these sanctions don’t apply, there has been pressure from wildlife groups for a ban and an inquiry was recently undertaken by the National Assembly’s climate change, environment and rural affairs committee.

Self-locking snares, which continue to tighten the more an animal struggles, are already outlawed but free-running snares, which are designed to slacken once an animal stops pulling, are legal in Wales.

Campaigners argue that these snares are inhumane and kill thousands of non-target species.

Snares are typically used to control foxes and rabbits but they can also be used legally to catch rats, grey squirrels and mink.

Critics insist that significant numbers of non-target species are caught, including badgers, hares, pheasants, deer, cats and dogs.

However, instead of an outright ban, the committee has instead agreed to a voluntary approach, starting with an annual review of the code of best practice.

The committee says that if there are failures in this system, the Welsh Government should strengthen the current law.

And if this approach is shown to be failing, the committee suggested that Wales might adopt a similar approach to Scotland.

The committee also recommended that the liability for prosecution be switched from users to landowners as this would overcome the traditional difficulty of securing convictions for illegal snares.

Only if these new measures failed to curb illicit snaring will the government consider a complete ban, said the committee.