Concern over use of snares
MANDERSTON House has denied any involvement in the use of illegal snares on its estate.
The claim was made in a report by animal rights group League Against Cruel Sports, who said snares attached to dragpoles were found on the estate during two years of undercover filming.
However, Manderston House has denied any involvement with snaring to protect their game bird stocks and Scottish Gamekeepers Association claim the pictures shown by League Against Cruel Sports in their report were old and could have been taken from any rural area of Scotland.
Owner of Manderston House, Lord Palmer, was away this week when the Berwickshire News attempted to contacted him.
But he told the BBC: "As far as I'm aware everything that is being carried out with regard to vermin control is completely and utterly within the law and obviously he has my full support.
"There is no illegal snaring or trapping and never has been on the estate," added Lord Palmer who has a shooting tenant responsible for game birds.
The report, named 'Blood on the Wire', said their investigation's found the "grizzly remains of a number of hares, a squirrel and other unidentifiable mammals dumped near to release pens, presumably victims of the snares or fenn traps littered around the area."
It also alleged traps were being used to trap small foxes, with snares also set near to where badgers, a protected species, roamed.
Louise Robertson, Scottish Campaign's manager for League of Cruel Sports, criticised the Scottish Government for failing to sanction an outright ban on all snares.
She said: "This report shows regulation has not worked in the past and will not work in the future. The simple fact that the new measures have yet to be implemented highlights a distinct lack of commitment from the Government on this issue."
Two badgers were found dead in May near Duns having been killed by snares, increasing calls for the predator control method to be banned.
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Weather for Duns
Thursday 17 May 2012
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Light rain
Temperature: 5 C to 9 C
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