Record fine over badger killings
18 August 2009 - BBC News
A man has received a record £3,500 fine after he pled guilty to killing four
badgers by capturing them in snares and shooting them in the head. Anthony
Rodgers, 57, of Breconside Farm, Moffat, admitted that between 1 January and 4
April 2008 he set snares near a badger set at Crockett Wood. He also admitted
failing to check the snares between 2 and 4 April.
The Scottish SPCA described the crime as "horrific" and welcomed the fine
imposed at Dumfries Sheriff Court.
Scottish SPCA Ch Supt Mike Flynn said: "Overall, we believe that snaring is a
cruel and indiscriminate practice which causes a great deal of unnecessary
suffering in Scotland. While in this instance Rogers set legal, free-running snares, he used them
illegally and showed a callous and cruel disregard for the badgers he trapped
and then killed in a horrific manner. If a badger is caught in a snare it will
fight against the wire holding it and go to great lengths to free itself from
immense pain, which only causes it to suffer further. There was clear evidence
of this behaviour in this case."
Ian Hutchison, spokesman for Scottish Badgers, said: "We would like to
congratulate the Scottish SPCA for their diligence. These badgers were killed in
a disgusting fashion, which we believe is reflected in the fine imposed."
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