Occasionally people ask us about snares and traps they have come across when traveling across Scotland.  Are they legal?

Finding a trap or a snare can be concerning, but unless they have been placed to stop people from exercising their access rights or to block a right of way or core path, there is not an issue for Scotways.

They can be an emotive subject and banning their use in Scotland has been proposed by the Scottish Government (August 2023), but until that happens they are legal, though strictly controlled.  To legally set a snare you may need a licence from the police or NatureScot and you may need to display a reference number on all the traps that you set along with keeping records of what was caught.

Governing legislation includes the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as amended and other more specific legislation such as The Snares (Scotland) Order 2010.

If you are concerned about a trap or snare that you find in the countryside you should contact Police Scotland either on 101 or through their website.

You can find out more about traps and snares on The British Association for Shooting and Conservation website or the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust website.