The traps, which were three in number, were discovered at the beginning of March in an area where there is regular wolverine. When the traps, which were intended for Mård, were discovered had several incorrect construction.
– Some lacked gables and were open to the Slag trap itself. For Mård, the battle trap should be protected so that other larger animals cannot get into the trap and be injured, says Martin Jonsson, head of the County Administrative Board’s field unit.
It is permissible to chase Mård with trap during the period September 1 to March 31 – but then the conditions of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency must be met.
No DNA hit
– Given the animal species in the area, it is not possible to rule out that the intention was to access wolverine, a strictly protected species. A trap should be labeled with the hunter’s contact details and it was not done, says Jonsson.
The traps are seized but the police have closed the preliminary investigation into serious hunting crimes.
-We have topped the traps but have not received a DNA hit and since we have nothing to go on, the case has been closed, says environmental crime investigator Patrik Åström.