The Spring Traps Approval (Scotland) Amendment Order 2023, which came into effect on January 1, 2024, has changes to the categories of trap which are approved for use, and to the target species of certain traps approved for use.
Stoats
There’s now an additional type of spring trap (Quill Trap) available for stoat control, which complies with the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS) and adds several other new spring traps for non-AIHTS species.
The manufacturers’ instructions of use for several of the AIHTS approved spring traps for the taking and killing of stoats on The Spring Traps Approval (Scotland) Order can be found here.
NatureScot’s General Licence – GL14/2024 – to use certain traps to trap stoats for the conservation of wild birds or for prevention of serious damage to livestock can be found here.
Edible dormice
Edible dormice (Glis glis) are now removed from the species listed for certain traps currently approved under the 2011 Order.
There are now only three spring traps approved for the control of edible dormice (the Goodnature A24 rat and stoat trap; the Kania Trap 2000; and the Kania Trap 2500).
Edible dormouse is not currently known to be present in Scotland, therefore these amendments should not impact on any current trap users. The approval does however ensure that there are appropriate methods of control available should edible dormouse be introduced.
Legislation information
The Spring Traps Approval (Scotland) Amendment Order 2023 amends the Spring Traps Approval (Scotland) Order 2011.
The 2011 Order specifies the types and makes of trap which are approved for use under section 50(1)(b) of the Agriculture Act 1948 (“ the 1948 Act”).
It is an offence to use a spring trap which is not approved for the purpose under that section and section 50(1)(c) of the 1948 Act creates offences relevant to unlawful use.