Germany: Hobby hunter lets wildcat perish in box trap – reported to authorities

On 31 July 2018, a dead wildcat was discovered in Bavaria in a so-called “box trap”. Biologists working in the region to protect this strictly protected and rare species noticed that the trap had snapped shut around midday on one of the hottest days of that summer. In the low enclosure, covered with a black pond liner,

Editorial Wild beim Wild — 25 August 2018

On 31 July 2018, a dead wildcat was discovered in Bavaria in a so-called «box trap». Biologists working in the region to protect this strictly protected and rare species noticed that the trap had snapped shut around midday on one of the hottest days of that summer. In the low enclosure, covered with a black pond liner, the animal must have suffered an agonising death from heat.

An agonising death from heat inside the trap

The cat’s snout was covered in earth, and the wooden side panels of the trap bore clear scratch marks. The police quickly identified the responsible hobby hunter, who claimed to have checked the trap at dawn, yet nevertheless left the trap “set to catch”, thereby accepting the risk that an animal could be caught in the trap during the course of the day.

For this reason, «Wildes Bayern e.V.», together with the local «Tierschutzinitiative Hassberge e.V.» and the «Landesverband Bayern des Deutschen Tierschutzbundes», filed a criminal complaint with the public prosecutor’s office in Bamberg. Trap hunting is strictly regulated in Bavaria. Anyone using a so-called «live trap» such as the box trap in question must ensure that the captured animal does not come to harm.

Box trap — A box trap is a rectangular enclosure fitted with a trigger mechanism. A box trap must be inspected at regular intervals.

Criminal complaint against the hobby hunter

"In our view, the hobby hunter acted with direct intent," said Dr. Christine Miller from the association «Wildes Bayern», who led the filing of the complaint. "Anyone who sets a trap in these temperatures and knows that they will not be checking the trap in the coming hours accepts the risk that an animal will be caught in it and must endure hours in that narrow prison. The trap was in full sunlight, with no shade — no animal can survive that."

She adds: "Furthermore, the female wildcats are now caring intensively for their young. And the killing of mother animals that are still engaged in rearing their offspring is also a criminal offence that the hobby hunter knowingly accepted." Animal and nature conservation advocates are now hoping that the hobby hunter will be held accountable as quickly as possible. More on crime and hobby hunting and on the animal welfare problem.

More on the topic of hobby hunting: In our dossier on hunting we compile fact checks, analyses and background reports.