A BADGER has escaped unharmed after being trapped in a snare near Welshpool.

The animal was returned to the wild following its encounter with the snare, from which it was saved from by RSPCA Cymru.

A woman found the trapped badger near her house in Pentrebeirdd, just off the A490, on January 3. She initially thought the animal had died but contacted the RSPCA after noticing it was still breathing.

Phil Lewis, an RSPCA inspector, was sent out and found the badger entangled in a free-running snare, which was wrapped around the animal’s torso.

Fortunately the creature had remained relatively calm and as a result the wire had not wrapped further around its body, preventing a serious injury.

The wire was carefully cut away while the badger was safely held down by a grasper pole.

After freeing the badger and checking it for injuries, Mr Lewis released it back into the wild, and is now investigating who set the snare.

He said: “This incident really does highlight the cruel and indiscriminate nature of snares and the suffering they cause, not only to animals like foxes that are often the target of such traps, but also to other animals like badgers and even domestic animals like cats.

“Snares cannot discriminate between species and any animal that moves through the noose is a potential victim. This badger was extremely lucky to have been found, but also to have escaped unharmed.

"It's a relief that these devices could soon be outlawed in Wales under Welsh Government plans – something the RSPCA has long called for."

RSPCA Cymru says it is opposed to the manufacture, sale and use of snares and traps which cause suffering, labelling them as “indiscriminately cruel”.

The use of snares is not currently illegal in Wales. However, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act it is illegal to set a snare for a badger and, under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, it is an offence to injure, kill or take a badger, except under licence.

The Welsh Government does have plans to ban the use of snares in Wales.

The RSPCA advises members of the public to never try to free an animal from a snare or trap you risk hurting yourself and the animal.

They advise anyone who finds an animal caught in a snare or trap to call RSPCA on their emergency line 0300 1234 999.