Brutal animal trap found in woods in Strathnairn
Footage of a “stink pit” trap in Strathnairn has been used by animal welfare campaigners to highlight animal cruelty.
OneKind shared graphic images and recordings of a scene where a pile of rotting animal carcasses were being used as bait for a snare.
It is thought it was designed to trap foxes who can threaten red grouse and pheasants that are used for recreational shooting.
OneKind insisted the use of stink pits was part of intensive predator control on some Scottish shooting estates.
OneKind’s director Bob Elliot said: “The use of stink pits to lure animals into cruel snares, which inflict considerable mental and physical suffering upon the animals trapped in them, shows a fundamental lack of respect for Scotland’s wild and domestic animals.”
The question of whether stink pits should be legal has been raised repeatedly by OneKind.
Mr Elliot added: “Although snares are set to target predators to the red grouse, non-target species are often found among the animals dumped in stink pits, and during our work in the field we have discovered deer, geese, salmon and even cats in stink pits.
“In this recent case, the animals discovered in the grotesque stink pit included rooks and fox cubs.
“It’s a disgrace that this mass killing of rooks is still permitted and we were horrified to see that even young animals were treated as bait.
“Some of the rooks appeared to be juveniles, hardly surprising given that this is the time when they emerge from their nests and perch on branches before fledging fully.
“Fox cubs are loved by so many of the Scottish public, and we know that the killing and dumping of them like this will be very upsetting to many.”
A police spokesman said: “We received report of a fox trap without a tag on the estate at Kennels Cottage, Flichity.
“No criminality has been established.”
