SSPCA officers have released a badger back into the wild after it was found wounded in a snare in the Scottish Borders in June.
Ambulance driver Mairi Stewart recovered the badger, which was then taken to the Royal Dick Vet Hospital in Edinburgh where it was treated for its injuries.
The incident is under investigation.
Mairi said, “The badger had a wound to its lower abdomen as the snare had caught it just above the pelvis area.
“Thankfully the wire had not broken through the skin and an ultrasound revealed no serious internal injuries, apart from some bruising.
“However, the badger had managed to rip out all of its back claws in its efforts to escape the snare, resulting in quite a significant amount of blood loss.
“It was very weak and dehydrated and vets estimated that it had been in the snare for at least 24 hours, possibly longer.”
After being treated by vets the badger was transferred to the charity’s Wildlife Rescue Centre at Middlebank in Fife.
It was released in the Borders on Wednesday.
SSPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said, “We are regularly alerted to incidents of non-target species being caught in snares including badgers, deer and domestic animals such as cats and dogs.
“These incidents highlight how completely indiscriminate snares are.
“While snaring continues, suffering will continue and that is why we are in favour of an outright ban on the use of snares in Scotland.
“We look forward to the planned amendment to the Wildlife and Countryside act 1981, which will make it a requirement for all snares to bear an identity tag making it easier to trace those who misuse them.”
Anyone with information regarding the misuse of snares, or persecution of badgers, should contact the charity on 03000 999 999.