Men charged with snare-setting to catch rare mountain hare

Two men have been charged with laying snares to trap rare mountain hares on a Highland estate.

Kevin Begg, 45, and David Taylor, 64, are alleged to have used 24 snares to trap the white hare on Lochindorb Estate at Grantown-on-Spey on April 19.

At the time of the alleged offence the estate was owned by Alistair Laing, chairman of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust. Mr Laing has since sold the estate on.

The pair allegedly used the traps at land near Loch an t-Sidhien and also near the B9007 road, both on the estate.

The elusive mountain hare is Britain’s only native hare and have been around since the Ice Age.

They change colour in winter, becoming white to camouflage themselves against the snow.

Begg, of Keepers House, Lochindorb, and Taylor, of Relugas Kennels, Dunphail, Forres, both deny setting the traps.

Their trial was set for three days, starting on March 28 next year, at Inverness Sheriff Court.

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/highlands-islands/282097-men-charged-with-setting-snares-for-rare-mountain-hare/

 

Chaos in the Countryside

Hunt saboteurs Association
Press Release 7th of November 2011

A week after falsely blaming hunt saboteurs for the death of one of their hounds, the attached video shows the Cotswold Vale Farmers Hunt casually risking the lives of their hounds. They were filmed throughout the day hunting on main roads, causing traffic chaos and at least two cars were forced to make emergency stops to avoid killing hounds. When the saboteurs voiced their concerns about how dangerous it was they were met with physical and verbal abuse.

Lee Moon, spokesperson for the Hunt saboteurs Association, stated:

“It was very convenient for the hunt that saboteurs were present last week as it gave them an easy scapegoat for the death of their hound. This video shows conclusively that the hunts don’t care for any animal, even their hounds, and are happy to put their lives at risk, and cause chaos, in the name of sport.”
Watch the video here

‘Ilegal hare hunt’ claims probe in Pendle

A POLICE probe has been launched after complaints were made about a hunt illegally chasing a wild hare.

Officers are looking into claims a pack of hounds followed by around 20 hunters on horseback were chasing the animal across fields between Barnoldswick and West Marton on Saturday afternoon.

The hunters, dressed in red blazers, black jodhpurs and black safety helmets, were spotted by a number of animal lovers who said they were deeply shocked at what happened.

Pendle Forest and Craven Hunt master Tom Bannister said they had been in the area at the time but no hare had been discovered.

In 2005, the government passed the Hunting Act banning the hunting of foxes, hares, minks and deer with dogs.

Anyone found guilty of illegal hunting could face a fine of up to £5,000. However, hunts can still follow a scent while out riding, which is commonly known as a drag hunt.

Carole Mitchell, 51, of Ollet Hall Road, Darwen, was visiting her three pet sheep in Stock Road, near Barnoldswick when she saw the hunt.

She said: “It was absolutely awful. I locked myself in the car because I just couldn’t bear it.

“It is so shocking to watch. There was this horrific screaming and I couldn’t tell if it was the dogs or the hare.”

Fellow witness Michael Martin, 62, from Barnoldswick, said: “That poor hare must have been terrified. “I could see it running desperately for its life.

Pendle Forest and Craven Hunt confirmed it conducted a hunt with 20 people on horseback and 20 on foot between Barnoldswick and West Marton on Saturday between 11am and 2.30pm.

Mr Bannister said: “We were completely within the law.

“The law demands that even if the hounds were to find a hare we would have to pull them off, but we did not find a hare on Saturday.”

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/9348111._Ilegal_hare_hunt__claims_probe_in_Pendle/

New Hunt season – More violence against hunt saboteurs

Hunt Saboteurs Association
Press Release November 5th 2011

Members of the Hunt Saboteurs Association, from different groups in the South East, visited the meet of the Old Surrey, Burstow & West Kent Fox Hunt, taking place just outside Lingfield in East Sussex. Due to previous violence from this hunts Staff and supporters (who’s Huntsman has a conviction for assaulting a Hunt Saboteur in 1991) the police had been informed of the Hunt Saboteurs intentions, and were in attendance.

At around 3pm saboteurs were attempting to cross a narrow metal bridge on Environment Agency land when a supporter of the hunt took it on himself to block their passage. Other hunt supporters on foot were behind the group, and pushing forward against their backs. In the struggle the supporter pulled a female hunt saboteur over, knocking her head onto the concrete base, causing a deep bloody wound to the crown of her head.

Riders of the hunt, supported by the foot followers, proceeded to barge into the other hunt saboteurs in what seemed to be an attempt to cover up the actions of their supporter. Some saboteurs were then asked to ‘arraign it’ so that the incident was not reported to the police. It is suspected that the perpetrator has a gun licence he would be in danger of losing if convicted of violence. The incident was reported to the Police and the man was questioned. Formal statements and video evidence will be submitted to ensure a conviction.

Lee Moon, spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association said: “This is just one more violent incident in the history of the Old Surrey, Burstow & West Kent Fox Hunt, an organisation whose reason for existence is the infliction of violence. It seems that if they cannot persecute foxes then hunt saboteurs will do as second choice.”

Photographs are available on request.

Further information on Old Surrey, Burstow & West Kent Fox Hunt can be found at
http://hsa.enviroweb.org/index.php/news/archive/201-hunt-saboteur-knocked-unconscious-with-iron-bar-as-hunt-season-starts

http://hsa.enviroweb.org/index.php/news/archive/189-p18500-compensation-for-hunt-saboteur-almost-killed-at-cub-hunt