Stink Pits Stink - Scottish Parliament: 15 June 2017
Channel: The Scottish Parliament
Date: 2017-06-15

Members' Business
Debate on the subject of—
S5M-05662 Christine Grahame: Stink Pits Stink—That the Parliament notes the continued use
of stink pits, which are also known as middens, as part of the predator control regime on shooting
estates in the Scottish Borders and elsewhere; understands that these are pits or piles of animal
carcasses that are left to decompose so that the smell will attract foxes and other predators into
snares placed around them; believes that the dead animals found in these pits recently have
included foxes, deer, whole salmon, pink-footed geese, pheasants, rabbits, mountain hares and
domestic cats; considers that killing and dumping animals, including protected species and
domestic pets, to rot and act as bait to trap other animals, is inhumane and fundamentally
disrespectful to the creatures; believes that current use goes beyond good practice in many
instances; notes the view that it is necessary to assess the justification for permitting their use
when the disposal of farm livestock is strictly controlled, when the extent to which their use is
associated with the killing of protected species and domestic animals is taken account of and
when the association between the pits and intensive predator control regimes as practised on
driven grouse moors is examined, and notes calls for the Scottish Government to consider the
merits of banning the use of stink pits in Scotland altogether, on ethical, animal welfare and public
health grounds.

Published by the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body.

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