A CONCERNED resident was left horrified after discovering an illegal animal trap in Auchinleck.

While out a walk a local man was shocked when realising he had stumbled across an inhumane deer sneer.

The sharp wire was wrapped between trees in a bid to capture wild deer and animals.

But the trap captures the wildlife in horrific conditions and forces them to suffer and have been branded ‘indiscriminate’ by animal welfare charities.

Now residents are being warned that these sort of traps are being set up in the local area which could hurt their cats, dogs, and other pets.

The animals will walk straight into the device and become instantly trapped, and the wire will choke them to death.

The Scottish SPCA are now advising pet owners and dog walkers in the area to be extremely vigilant.

Cumnock Chronicle:

The worried witness who spotted the traps said: “I came across this illegal snare set to catch deer at the weekend.

“I would like to warn members of public to be wary when walking their dogs, try and not let them stray to far in the area of top of old line behind Cameron Drive and along back road of Auchinleck around Gilmilnscroft forestry woods.

“I noticed the poachers had been monitoring the movement of deer in that area and I kept watching as I knew they would set snares shortly.

Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn told the Chronicle: “This looks like a typical example of an illegal snare.

“Snares are indiscriminate and will capture any animal, be that a deer or dog or cat.

“The suffer ing that an animal endures in a snare is horrific and while snaring continues, suffer ing will continue and that is why we are in favour of an outright ban on the use of snares in Scotland.

“If anyone does find a snare, we ask that you leave it untouched and to contact our animal helpline on 03000 999 999 if you believe it to have been set illegally.”