Latest news with #harecoursing
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Police link rise in hare coursing to early harvest
An earlier than usual harvest has led to an increase in reports of hare coursing in north-east Scotland, say police. The illegal activity involves dogs chasing, catching and killing hares on open farmland. It is most commonly reported after crops have been cut in late summer and before spring, as short vegetation leaves hares with fewer opportunities to hide. Police Scotland said: "This year's warm summer and early harvest have led to increased reports of hare coursing in recent weeks. Members of the public are being urged to report any suspicious activity." More stories from North East Scotland, Orkney and Shetland Listen to news from North East Scotland on BBC Sounds Police said hare coursing was cruel and frequently linked to other crimes such as theft, damage and intimidation. They said the activity was a cause of concern for landowners, farmers and rural communities. Police Scotland said: "Hare coursing is primarily a seasonal issue affecting rural communities across our force area. "It is most common from late summer when the crops are cut through to spring when crops are not grown enough to provide hares with sufficient cover. "This year, due to an early harvest, we have seen an increase in reports of hare coursing." Dog ban In February, a man whose dog attacked and injured a deer became the first person in Scotland to be convicted and sentenced under new hunting legislation. Nickolas Chenier, 56, was using his golden lurcher for hare coursing when it went after the deer near a cemetery in Wick. Members of the public tried to protect the severely injured deer, before Chenier appeared and killed the animal with a knife. He was prosecuted under the Hunting With Dogs Act (Scotland) Act, which came into force in 2023, and fined £750 and banned from owning a dog for five years. Chenier pleaded guilty at Wick Sheriff Court. More on this story Unpaid work for men who hunted hares with dogs Related internet links How to contact Police Scotland
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Police link rise in hare coursing to early harvest in NE Scotland
An earlier than usual harvest has led to an increase in reports of hare coursing in north east Scotland, say illegal activity involves dogs chasing, catching and killing hares on open is most commonly reported between late summer, after crops have been cut, and spring when vegetation is still short - conditions that leave hares with fewer opportunities to Scotland said: "This year's warm summer and early harvest have led to increased reports of hare coursing in recent weeks. Members of the public are being urged to report any suspicious activity." Police said hare coursing was cruel and frequently linked to other crimes such as theft, damage and said the activity was a cause of concern for landowners, farmers and rural Scotland said: "Hare coursing is primarily a seasonal issue affecting rural communities across our force area. "It is most common from late summer when the crops are cut, through to spring when crops are not grown enough to provide hares with sufficient cover."This year, due to an early harvest, we have seen an increase in reports of hare coursing." Dog ban In February, a man whose dog attacked and injured a deer became the first person in Scotland to be convicted and sentenced under new hunting Chenier, 56, was using his golden lurcher for hare coursing when it went after the deer near a cemetery in of the public tried to protect the severely injured deer, before Chenier appeared and killed the animal with a was prosecuted under the Hunting With Dogs Act (Scotland) Act, which came into force in 2023, and fined £750 and banned from owning a dog for five pleaded guilty at Wick Sheriff Court.
BBC News
08-08-2025
- BBC News
Shropshire farmer sees hare coursing on his land 'every week'
An arable farmer has said he is seeing hare coursers on his land in Shropshire every single week. It comes as West Mercia Police issued an urgent notice highlighting there had been a "significant increase" in hare coursing in the pursuit of hares by dogs is illegal, and can also cause damage to farmers' Moseley, 28, said he was "forever seeing [hare coursers'] vehicles around the place", adding they were "driving on fields, pushing through gateways, pushing through hedges" and causing damage to his farmland near Newport. As an arable farmer, Mr Moseley's farm has plenty of wide open fields - making it, he said, a prime location for hare was, he said, "very frustrating" to see the trail of destruction left behind by the crushing crops were "the biggest problem", he said, adding that his farm had also seen "locks and chains cut on gateways" by hare coursers. "I planted some new hedging a month ago, and that got flattened pretty quickly by vehicles driving through it," Mr Moseley explained. "They'll push through anything if they want to get into a field." The number of brown hares in the UK is declining - with less than half a million estimated to be left in coursing was made illegal in 2004 under the Hunting Act, and under 2022 legislation it is punishable by an unlimited fine and up to 6 months in Richard Jones from West Mercia Police said rural residents and farmers should "look out for suspicious vehicles" and report their registration plates, but urged them not to approach suspected hare coursers."Sometimes we'll get lucky and catch them in the act, sometimes we'll get a report [from the public] which we'll act upon," he said. Sgt Jones added that hare coursing could be "demoralising" for rural communities."These are people coming here to carry out an illegal act, and kill a beautiful animal," he said. For Mr Moseley, it takes a toll on farmers like him who are having to deal with hare coursers day in, day recalled cycling home after spending 15 hours on a combine harvester and spotting hare coursers in one of his fields."I think there's better things for them to be doing," he said."You're on other people's land - it's illegal, you shouldn't be there." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
05-08-2025
- BBC News
'Significant' rise in hare coursing in Telford and Wrekin, police warn
Police have issued an urgent notice regarding a "significant increase" in hare coursing in Shropshire. West Mercia Police said there had been a growth in reports in its Telford and Wrekin division on Monday, and urged anyone who witnessed such activities to call 999 coursing is the illegal pursuit of hares by dogs and can lead to the disruption of crops and damage on farmers' land when trespassing is force warned: "We advise local farmers to refrain from pursuing individuals engaged in these activities, as their intentions and potential threats are unknown. Your safety is of utmost importance." It added: "Please be assured that our rural team is dedicated to working tirelessly to provide support to local farmers and preserve wildlife areas that are currently experiencing a resurgence of hare coursing and poaching."Hare coursing was made illegal under the Hunting Act 2004, which made it an offence to hunt wild mammals with who participates, attends, facilitates or permits land for a hare coursing event is committing an legislation introduced in 2022, anyone caught hare coursing faces an unlimited fine and up to six months in prison. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
08-07-2025
- BBC News
Wigan man convicted of hare-coursing offences in Lancashire
A dog owner whose lurcher type dogs killed wild hares has been convicted of hare Kent, 40, of Wigan, was given a criminal behaviour order at Lancaster Magistrates' Court banning him for five years from trespassing on land in Lancashire with a lurcher type was also ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and must forfeit the Nissan X Trail vehicle he used to commit his was convicted of eight offences: two counts of hunting a wild mammal with dogs, two counts of trespass with intent to search for or pursue hares with dogs, two counts of being equipped for searching for or pursuing hares with dogs, and two counts of daytime trespass in pursuit of game. 'Absolutely no regard' PC Sean Dalby, from Lancashire Police, said: "Kent has shown absolutely no regard for animals' rights to live peacefully in the wild. Instead, he allowed his dogs to cruelly maim and kill hares. "I hope that this result shows those who commit these types of offences that we have a dedicated team of officers, and we will find you." Lancashire Police said the investigation into Kent began after police received reports of hare coursing on land off Whiteley's Lane, in Ormskirk, on Christmas force added the lurcher dogs - a crossbreed bred for hunting - were then "allowed to kill wild hares" on 26 a result, Lancashire Police began an investigation and Kent was subsequently charged with the eight offences. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
