HORRIFIED children saw a fox die in agony – caught in a snare at Castle Hill .
People visiting the Huddersfield landmark were unable to save the vixen which was trapped in the wire snare just feet from a footpath.
Now Kirklees Council and the RSPCA have launched investigations into the incident, which they condemned as “shocking”.
They fear other snares may have been set on the hill, which is visited by thousands of people – many of them dog-walkers.
The incident was witnessed by Kathryn Conway, who was visiting the hill with her children Kian, seven, and Ellie, 10, and friends.
“It was particularly upsetting for the children as we had just been out to scatter their grandfather’s ashes.
“I took them up to Castle Hill afterwards to cheer them up and we saw a couple appear very agitated, near the path.
“They pointed to the bushes and we could clearly see a fox, trapped in a wire snare.
“Someone had gone to get some wire-cutters but by the time they were able to free the fox, it had died. It was gruesome.
“The kids were very upset but I was angry. There are lots of people who walk their dogs at Castle Hill and that could easily have been someone’s pet caught like that.
“The snare was a wire noose attached to a peg in the ground and the anguish that would have caused any dog-owner had this been their dog is unimaginable.
“We are worried there may be other snares set at the hill.”
An RSPCA spokesman said: “This was an incredibly distressing incident for the onlookers to witness and this poor fox would have suffered a lingering and painful death.
“The RSPCA has concerns about all snares set to catch wildlife as they can be very inhumane and cause a lot of unnecessary suffering.
“We do not know what type of snare was used in this instance but self-locking snares would actually be illegal.
“Even if a free-running snare was used, there are issues around whether permission would have been sought by the landowner, in this case the local council. Those setting snares also have a legal responsibility to check them regularly and ensure that any animal caught in them is treated humanely.
“There is also concern here that pets such as dogs as well as wildlife could be harmed and killed by such snares.”
She urged anyone with any information about the incident to contact the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018.
John Fletcher, of Kirklees Council , said: “This is an horrific act and it is worrying to think there could be other snares on the hill. We will check as far as we can.
“It sounds as if the fox died in agony, which must have been very upsetting.
“We do get requests to hunt on council-owned land but all are turned down and anyone setting snares is doing so illegally.”
