Part 1Wildlife management

Glue traps

I11Offence of using glue trap

1

It is an offence for a person, without reasonable excuse, to use a glue trap for the purpose of killing or taking any animal other than an invertebrate.

2

It is an offence for a person, without reasonable excuse, to use a glue trap in a manner that is likely to cause bodily injury to any animal other than an invertebrate that comes into contact with it.

3

It is an offence for a person to knowingly cause or permit an unauthorised person to commit an offence under subsection (1) or (2).

4

A person does not commit an offence under subsection (1) or (2) if the person is an authorised person.

5

A person who commits an offence under this section is liable—

a

on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to a fine not exceeding £40,000 (or both),

b

on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to a fine (or both).

6

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is amended as follows—

a

in section 5 (prohibition of certain methods of killing or taking wild birds), in subsection (1)(a), after “trap” insert “(other than a glue trap within the meaning of section 1 of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024)”,

b

in section 11 (prohibition of certain methods of killing or taking wild animals), after subsection (2) insert—

2A

In subsection (2), “trap” does not include a glue trap within the meaning of section 1 of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024.

7

In this section—

  • authorised person” means a person—

    1. a

      authorised by the scheme made under section 5, and

    2. b

      acting in accordance with the person’s authorisation,

    and references to the authorisation of a person are to be construed accordingly,

  • glue trap” means a trap that—

    1. a

      is designed, or is capable of being used, to catch an animal other than an invertebrate, and

    2. b

      uses an adhesive substance as the means, or one of the means, of capture.