Hi JohnD
The A24 trap, as I understand it, was originally designed to kill hedgehogs in New Zealand. The BHPS had a petition to ban the use of it in the UK a few years ago. As I recall, the numbers of signatures were not reached – a General Election intervened.
This is a post from the time of that petition which contains more information:
https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/forums/topic/petition-against-a24-trap-sold-in-nz-to-kill-hedgehogs/
This is from the Legal Section from BHPS
Legal Hedgehogs are protected, in England, Scotland and Wales, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Schedule 6 and in Northern Ireland under the Wildlife (NI) Order 1985, Schedules 6&7. What this means is they are
“protected from being killed or taken by certain methods under Section 11(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The methods listed are: self-locking snares, bows, crossbows, explosives (other than ammunition for a firearm), or live decoys. The species listed are also protected from the following activities: trap, snare or net, electrical device for killing or stunning, poisonous, poisoned or stupefying substances or any other gas or smoke, automatic or semi-automatic weapon, device for illuminating a target or sighting device for night shooting, artificial light, mirror or other dazzling device, sound recording, and mechanically propelled vehicle in immediate pursuit.”
