By Liz Fowler

A CLOUD was cast over the official launch of the grouse season yesterday in the Angus glens with the release of some graphic images showing the suffering of animals caught in snares, which it is claimed are widely used on shooting estates as a method of predator control.

On a visit to a working grouse moor in Glen Lethnot, the Game Conservancy Trust forecast this year’s shoot would be a success with a “fantastic” increase in numbers of birds.

That was put down to a warm spring and rigorous pest control.

At the same time, however, the League Against Cruel Sports was launching a new film, Caught In A Trap, to highlight the need to ban snaring, with the voiceover recorded by One Foot In The Grave actress Annette Crosby, president of the league.

“Many people will find this film pretty shocking but sadly this is the reality of snaring and the commercial shooting industry,” said Scotland campaigner Louise Robertson.

“The Scottish Executive has still to make a decision on the future of snaring and we hope this film will encourage those with the power to make such decisions to do the right thing once and for all by banning these horrific devices.

“Scotland is in a position to influence the rest of the UK on this issue and I only hope common sense will prevail.

“Snaring is a barbaric method of predator control used on shooting estates throughout the country.

“The thin wire nooses set to immobilise foxes are actually a deadly trap for many other unsuspecting creatures including rabbits, badgers otters and even domestic cats and dogs.

“The league supports a ban on the grounds they are cruel, unnecessary and indiscriminate.”

The high numbers of birds wounded rather than killed cleanly was also highlighted by the welfarists.

“Grouse can fly at speeds of up to 80mph and it requires a high level of skill to shoot them,” said Ms Robertson. “But first-time shooters can legally borrow a gun and shoot grouse without any training whatsoever.”

The Game Conservancy Trust preferred to focus on a rise in red grouse numbers and resulting rise in income to the landowners.

A decline in the species’ population and the spread of disease has seen grouse numbers dwindle in recent years.

But Dr David Baines, head of uplands research with the trust, said breeding success this year had been fantastic.

“Red grouse are extremely resilient birds and fortunately the appalling weather struck when the young chicks were well-feathered, so survival rates have been good,” he said.

“In the vast majority of places we have seen some very healthy brood sizes and the majority of estates can look forward to an extremely productive season.”

The season traditionally starts on the “Glorious Twelfth” of August.

But this year it will get under way on Monday, as no shoots take place on Sundays.

Trust director Ian McColl said, “It was a very mild winter and we had a fantastic spring, which meant the heather came away on the moors early. This is important because it means the hen will lay more eggs.

“A lot of the keepers have been very pleased with the number of chicks they saw.”

He said measures to combat tick infestations had been effective.

“Ticks have been an increasing problem across much of Scotland as temperatures get warmer and wetter.

“Land managers in certain parts of Scotland have clubbed together and are working to reduce infestations.

“This is done by putting sheep on the hills and treating them every time a tick is found on them.

“It is very encouraging to see visibly less ticks on the hill.”