Undercover footage obtained by the Green Britain Foundation appears to show illegal snares being set and checked in a forested area of Ruabon Moor, Denbighshire. The footage, recorded between June and August 2023, shows snares arranged around a “stink pit”—a site where animal carcasses are placed to attract wildlife. The charity highlighted that the snares are used to kill wildlife indiscriminately and cruelly, often to support bird shooting businesses. Following the footage, North Wales Police launched an ongoing investigation into the alleged illegal activity.

The use of snares and glue traps was banned in Wales in October 2023, with Scotland following suit in November 2024, marking the first such bans in the UK. Dale Vince, founder of the Green Britain Foundation, condemned the snares as “medieval cruelty” and urged the UK government to extend the ban to England without delay. The police confirmed they were notified by the charity in late August and are actively investigating the case.