Call for views opens on Wildlife Management Bill

Holyrood’s Rural Affairs & Islands Committee has launched a call for views on the Scottish Government's Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill.

Introduced last month, the bill contains measures to address wildlife crime, tackle raptor persecution and manage grouse moors in Scotland, as well as to control muirburn, the controlled burning of vegetation. If passed, the bill would:

• ban the use of glue traps;
• introduce a licensing system for certain wildlife traps;
• introduce a licensing system for land on which certain birds may be killed or taken (currently only proposed to include red grouse);
• extend the investigatory powers of the Scottish SPCA; and
• extend the existing muirburn licensing system.

Among the questions on which views are sought are whether the proposed licensing systems for grouse shooting land are appropriate; whether the proposals for muirburn are suitable; whether certain wildlife traps should be permitted; and whether glue traps should be banned.

Committee convener Finlay Carson MSP commented: "We all have a responsibility to improve wildlife welfare wherever possible. While scrutinising this bill, we also need to consider the economic, environmental and conservation impacts of the proposals, alongside existing wildlife practises.

"We’d like to hear from members of the public, rural communities and stakeholders to help inform our scrutiny of this bill and to ensure an outcome that delivers in the best interests of wildlife welfare, the environment, the rural economy and sustainability of our rural communities."

The call for views is open until Friday 5 May. Respond via this link.