The squirrel-killing Minister for Wildlife: Environment Secretary Owen Paterson shows photo of himself proudly holding dead greys hanging from traps - and then boasts: 'They won't get out of that'

• Tory colleagues have been shocked to see him showing off the photo
• He is thought to have installed a number of the traps in his grounds

By Simon Walters for The Mail on Sunday

As Environment Secretary, Owen Paterson has already upset animal rights activists with his strong support for a badger cull to halt the spread of TB to cattle.

Now the Tory MP – whose role includes responsibility for wildlife – is set to provoke controversy after being photographed proudly holding specialist traps containing the bodies of dead grey squirrels that were damaging trees on his estate in Shropshire.

Tory colleagues who have visited the Cabinet Minister's mansion near Shrewsbury have been shocked to see him showing off a photograph of himself holding a squirrel trap in each hand.

The dead animals' heads are inside the devices, while their bodies and bushy tails hang limply below.

'I'm not sure what was more shocking – the dead squirrels or the smile on Owen's face,' said one Conservative who has seen the picture.

'If the animal rights mob saw it they would have a fit. Owen insisted that we look at the photo and then he said, "Look at this – these traps are the real deal. No squirrel is going to get out of that."

'Everyone laughed but I felt embarrassed. Owen said the squirrels had inflicted terrible damage to his trees.'

Right-winger Paterson, 56, who is married to aristocrat's daughter Rose Ridley and has been tipped as a future Tory Party leader, is thought to have installed a number of the Kania 2000 traps in the grounds of his home.

They cost about £60 each and are, according to the manufacturers, 'by far the most powerful spring trap available in the UK'. They can be attached to trees, placed in lofts or left on the ground.

The makers recommend using peanuts or peanut butter as bait to lure the squirrels inside. The animals are then crushed in an instant.

There is no suggestion that Mr Paterson has done anything illegal.

Unlike the endangered red squirrel – which is extinct in most parts of the UK – grey squirrels are officially classed as vermin.

They are known to damage trees and gardens, and also roofs as they try to gain access to attics.

The Kania 2000 was originally developed in Canada for the fur trade. It was made legal in the UK in 1993 for use against grey squirrels, mink, stoats, weasels, mice and rats.

Kania's UK website says it is 'one of the safest and most humane traps in the world' – perfect for the grey squirrel.

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