Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 1 November 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 3 November 2005. It was answered by Lord Knight of Weymouth (Labour) on Monday, 7 November 2005 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Snares

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the danger to (i) badgers, (ii) livestock and (iii) domestic animals from snares.

Answer: DEFRA commissioned an independent working group on snares to examine all issues surrounding the snaring of foxes and rabbits. The group included experts on both animal welfare and wildlife management. The group's report has been published which contains a section examining the risks snares pose to non-target species such as badgers, livestock and domestic animals. In response to the report, DEFRA has published a code of good practice on the use of snares in fox and rabbit control and a DEFRA snares action plan. The documents may be found on:"http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/vertebrates/snares/index.htm"

Secondary information