Trail Hunting

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd – in the Senedd at 2:44 pm on 15 December 2021.

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Photo of Delyth Jewell Delyth Jewell Plaid Cymru 2:44, 15 December 2021

I know the RSPCA is also concerned that trail hunting is acting like a smokescreen, allowing fox hunting to continue. For Members who aren't aware of how this works, trail hunting involves using the urine, body parts or carcasses of foxes, deer or hares being laid on a trail for dogs to follow, and, although traditional hunts, as we've heard, have been banned, training hounds to follow these scents can lead to animals like foxes being disturbed and killed if the dogs pick up the scent of a live animal. Trail hunting isn't meant to involve foxes being killed, but, again, as we've heard, a high-profile conviction has recently highlighted that trail hunting has been used to hide illegal hunting for years. And, besides, the use of a scent of dead animals is surely utterly unnecessary when alternatives like drag hunting exists, which allows hounds to follow an artificial scent not derived from carcasses or body parts. Minister, it's surely beneath the dignity of human beings to take pleasure from the death of another creature. Will you, please, look at ways, with your colleagues—hearing what you've just said—to persuade other landowners in the immediate weeks to outlaw trail hunting, particularly ahead of Boxing Day, when these parades happen?