Saboteurs claim they saved the life of an otter that was being hunted illegally

Tense footage shows the moment that hunt saboteurs ‘saved the life’ of what they said was an otter. Although otters were made a protected species more than 40 years ago, the activists claim people are still hunting them illegally.

“An otter was seen… fleeing”

Saboteur groups said they caught the Culmstock Hunt illegally hunting on 27 July on the River Coly, Devon. Uncut video published by Devon County Hunt Saboteurs (DCHS) shows an animal, claimed to be an otter, in the water (from 0:03) that quickly runs away (0:18-0:21). About a minute later, the footage shows hunting hounds following after the animal. Throughout this time, off-screen horn and voice calls can be heard. Severn Vale Hunt Saboteurs, who were present on the day, said:

The Hounds picked up on a scent in the undergrowth of the river bank and an otter was seen by sabs fleeing (see Devon County video) while [huntsman Mickey] Hibberd and whippers in on both sides of the water hunted the hounds on with voice and horn calls.

https://www.facebook.com/devoncountyhuntsaboteurs/videos/2862566260426340/

DCHS said its actions “saved [the] otter’s life” and resulted in the hunt ‘giving up’. It also said the Culmstock Hunt “claim to be hunting rats“. However, the animal in the video appears larger than a rat and similar in shape to an otter or mink.

Saboteur groups also reported that some members of the hunt “turned violent” towards saboteurs.

The Canary approached Culmstock Hunt for comment but hadn’t received a response at the time of publishing.

Otters, mink and rats

Hunting otters became illegal after the government made the animal a protected species in 1978. As a result, packs that hunted otters changed to hunting mink. However, the Hunting Act 2004 also made hunting mink illegal. Despite this, about 20 minkhound packs still existed in England and Wales as of 2010. Mink and otters share “similar habitats” along riverbanks.

Hunting rats with dogs is currently legal. However, ‘ratting’ packs are usually made up of terriers and will hunt near human habitation, such as in barns, which is the brown rat’s most common habitat. Water voles, which can be mistaken for rats, live along riverbanks but hunting them is also illegal.

Furthermore, images published by Severn Vale Hunt Saboteurs show the Culmstock Hunt’s pack still includes otterhounds.

Self-sabotage

Like other forms of hunting, minkhound packs attempt to use loopholes in the law to continue their pastime. Unlike other forms of hunting with hounds, which ride through autumn and winter, they operate from March to September. The public is also less likely to see them because they are on foot, have fewer people, and stick to waterways. Otters are no longer endangered. But hunting them is no less disgusting than hunting any other type of animal.

It’s unusual for saboteurs to catch minkhound packs in the act, but with the Culmstock Hunt’s apparent cockiness it shot itself in the foot.

Featured image via Facebook – Severn Vale Hunt Saboteurs