By Felix Meister, D.Phil., Advisor Scotland
The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 introduced the Wildlife Trap Licence as a new legal requirement for operating spring traps and corvid traps in Scotland. The Act makes it a prerequisite for obtaining a licence that trap operators attend assured trap training. The Act also states that the licence will be issued alongside a Wildlife Trap Licence Number, which will need to be displayed on all active spring traps or corvid traps.
The new licensing scheme is not currently in place yet. Until recently, NatureScot had upheld its intention for the licensing scheme to come into effect in spring or early summer 2025, and GWCT and other accrediting organisations communicated this timeline in their training courses. However, NatureScot has now informed us internally that the implementation of the licensing scheme will be delayed at least until autumn 2025. The delay is caused by difficulties encountered by Scottish Government in agreeing on the licence conditions.
For trap operators, this means that Wildlife Trap Licence Numbers will not be issued at least until September. Consequently, they will not need to be displayed on spring traps or corvid traps until then. For corvid traps, the requirement to display their NatureScot trap registration numbers remains in place in the meantime. As in the courses, we would advise against purchasing any new tags until more details about the Wildlife Trap Licence Number and its implementation are known. We will provide further updates in due course.
On a positive note, the delay gives trap operators who have not yet been accredited more time to receive training. GWCT Scotland are offering more courses in June 2025, and places can be booked here:
- Hopetoun Estate, West Lothian: 5 June
- Luss Estate, Argyll & Bute: 6 June