Two men accused of laying snares for mountain hares
Two men have been accused of laying snares to trap mountain hares on land near Grantown-on-Spey in April.
Kevin Begg, 45, of Lochindorb, and David Taylor, 64, of Forres, face a charge of using 24 snares as a means for taking, or killing, the animals.
The case was called at Inverness Sheriff Court, but the men were excused from appearing. They deny the charge.
A trial was set for 28 to 30 March. The men allegedly used the traps near Loch an t-Sidhein and near the B9007.