Campaigns
Credits: Carl Newman
Protected Species Status for Hares
We are drafting a Bill which we hope will be adopted by a sympathetic MP who draws high on the Private Member's Bill ballot. If the Bill is enacted it would provide the brown hare and mountain hare with protection similar to that currently enjoyed by the badger. A campaign for the Irish hare by the Irish Hare Initiative is also under way (see above)
As in our previous campaign for a shooting close season we remain willing to accommodate the legitimate needs of farmers for crop protection, but those needs would have to be proven and non-lethal measures such as deterrents shown to have failed. All culling would be done under licence on a case-by-case basis and licences would only be issued during the main breeding season from February to September inclusive under very exceptional circumstances. This would minimise the number of orphaned leverets dying of starvation which has been described as: "one of the country's last great wildlife scandals." In practice, the need for culling should be minimal, since hares are not significant agricultural pests. Otherwise the Species Action Plan of 1995 to double their national population by the year 2010 would have been absurd.
Our total opposition to all persecution and killing of hares for so-called "sport" remains unchanged.
Our proposals for hare protection are surely reasonable and consistent with the values of a modern, civilised society.
Ban on Snares
Live hare being cut from snare.
The Hare Preservation Trust is working alongside a number of other organisations such as OneKind for a ban on the manufacture, sale and use of all types of snare. These appalling devices cause unimaginable suffering to target and non-target animals including protected species and domestic pets. Supporters of snares propose measures which they say will reduce the cruelty of snares, such as crimped stops which limit the tightening of the noose. But we say the frequency of inspection of snares to prevent undue suffering alone renders them untenable. The maximum time for an animal to be subjected to the terror of inhibition of its "flight or fight" response, perhaps in extreme weather conditions is one hour. Some would argue for even less. It is totally unrealistic to expect gamekeepers to inspect their snares that frequently.
Hare dies following release from snare.
Download snare ban petition (PDF 70kb).
Tightening up the Hunting Act 2004
We are greatly concerned that the Hunting Act is being widely flouted and even one master of foxhounds said recently "95% of hunts are breaking the law big time." This anarchy in the countryside is clearly unacceptable. The law is in urgent need of tightening up and better enforcement. Some police forces are excellent at combatting hare coursing which was banned by the Act and a prime example is Cambridgeshire with their "Operation Dornier." The performance of some forces remains unsatisfactory, not only with hare coursing, but also other types of hunting with dogs.
We expect an "indicative" vote in Parliament within the next few weeks where MPs will be asked to say whether they wish to have a free vote on a repeal of the Hunting Act. So it is crucial that MPs are reminded that the vast majority of the British public to not wish to see the re-legalisation of barbarity in our countryside. MPs also need reminding that this is not just about foxhunting, but also hare hunting, hare coursing and deer hunting.
Animal Aid is running a postcard campaign to MPs and supplies can be obtained from info@animalaid.org.uk. We are delighted to note the campaign places equal emphasis on foxes, hares and deer and urge everyone to support it by sending for cards to distribute to friends, relations and work colleagues.
Enforcement of the Hares Preservation Act 1892
In the absence of a shooting close season this is the only legislation which provides hares with a measure of protection during their breeding season. It is illegal to sell any hare or leveret from 1 March to 31 July, but imported hares are exempt. During the past year we have been successful in stopping the sale of hares during the prohibited period in two cases. In another case involving a supermarket chain, although the hare was imported and therefore on sale legally it was withdrawn, probably to avoid adverse publicity. We are campaigning for the legislation to be amended to include imported hares since they are also in decline in Europe and this would make prosecutions easier. The prohibited period also needs to be extended since hares are now known to breed throughout the year - probably as a result of global warming.