South Pembrokeshire Hunt terriermen appear to dig out an active badger sett

West Wales Anti Bloodsports were monitoring the South Pembrokeshire Hunt at Angle in January 2011. They met at Neath Farm. They take out a pack of hounds to the scrubby valley to the south of the refinery. The terriermen working for the Hunt are present on a quad bike, following the hounds - again, there is no evidence that a trail is being laid. A regular member of the hunt confesses that the terriermen are present as 'landowners want foxes killed'. The hounds go on cry after entering thick blackthorn scrub, where laying a trail would have been very difficult. The hunt member says the monitors are 'being suitably entertained'. The pack chase up the valley, and monitors see a fox (unfortunately not captured on film) bolt back down the valley. A hunt supporter standing next to them also sees it, and heads off in the direction of the huntsman Simon Jones. Jones is seen to make a circular motion with his arm, and the pack of hounds rapidly change direction and head back down the valley. They soon become excited again, and after further chasing, mark to ground near a hedge above a complex of farm buildings. The mounted field, huntsman and terriermen all move in together, and the terriermen dismount from the quadbike and head in the direction of the hedge. Monitors then film a terrierman apparently digging and hacking at the thick vegetation exactly where the hounds had marked earlier, while another waits on the other side of the fence. A white terrier, and digging equipment being used, is clearly seen on film. A regular member of the hunt then turns up in his car, and sees the monitors with their cameras. Shortly afterwards, the terriermen leave the site. Monitors inform the police and the RSPCA, who arrive as the pair are leaving. An active badger sett is confirmed to have been dug into, and then blocked with earth and stones.

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Nonprofits & Activism

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• 20110126
• 112501