A ROW has broken out over the use of traps used to capture weasels and stoats on moorland.

The legal traps, which were found by a walker in Hyndburn, have been put in place to help preserve endangered bird numbers in the area, though some have slammed the use of them as ‘barbaric’.

Peter Holden, a farmer who works on conserving the land, explained that the traps are in place to stop small rodents from destroying the ground-nests of birds.

He said: “These type of traps are in fact quite legal and are the most humane and efficient trap available.

“This is a conservation site run and managed by Natural England with the aim to conserve and increase ‘red list’ bird numbers such as curlew, lapwing, golden plover and skylarks.”

According to the RSPB, birds on the ‘red list’ are those who hold the highest conservation priority and include species that need urgent help.

To make it on to the list, birds have to be globally threatened or have seen a severe decline in their UK breeding population over the last 25 years.

Mr Holden went on to explain that weasels and stoats frequently and easily tear apart the nests of birds, something which has had severe affects on their wild numbers.

He said: “They start off by going for the eggs and then get to the chicks and adult birds, the strength they have is phenomenal.”

But some people don’t see the need for the traps and say the use of them to kill any animal is wrong.

Chris Whalen, who found the traps, said he was disgusted to find the devices.

He said: “These traps are inhumane and can cause animals and small birds to suffer slow and painful deaths.

“There is no need for this.”

PC Nigel Keates said: “As long as traps and snares are used responsibly and fairly, they are legal.

“We try our best to work with the farming community to make sure that all of these methods of trapping are up to standard.”

David Beattie, the chairman of the Lancashire Mammal Group, said while the understood the reasons traps were used in places, the groups biggest concern was always the welfare on the animal inside and making sure they are not suffering.