PETITION against A24 trap, sold in NZ to kill hedgehogs
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A trap (Goodnature A24) has recently been licensed for use in England, which was originally designed to kill hedgehogs (and rats, stoats, etc.) in New Zealand (where hedgehogs were introduced and are now considered a pest species). This could have tragic consequences for our hedgehogs.
BHPS (British Hedgehog Preservation Society) have started a petition to call on DEFRA to withdraw UK approval of this trap. (click on link to BHPS above for further information.)
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/183526
100,000 ‘signatures’ are needed to have this debated in Parliament. We need to reach this number as soon as possible because these traps are out there now and hedgehogs are at risk.
There are more than 43,000 people registered on Hedgehog Street. If we all signed the Petition and got at least 2 other people to sign it also, we would soon reach the 100,000 and hopefully more. If you are on social media the word could spread even wider. The rate of ‘signatures’ has dropped off considerably in the past few days. With the 24 hours from 2nd to 3rd April only reaching 70. The numbers need to be nearer to 500 every day for the next 5 months! We all need to redouble our efforts to help protect the nation’s hedgehogs.
If you haven’t already, please ‘sign’ the Petition. It is very quick and easy to do.
The A24 traps have carbon dioxide cannisters, which eject the dead trapped animal in the hope that predators will eat it, so the trapper would not necessarily know what animal has been caught. The trap then resets itself ready to catch another animal, etc.
Whilst DEFRA say that this trap is not licensed for killing hedgehogs here, a trap which is used kill hedgehogs in New Zealand and has not had any modifications for use here, it seems to me, is at risk of killing hedgehogs here. Whether the trap is humane or not is not relevant to this. A dead hedgehog is a dead hedgehog.
Part of the response from my MP said :
‘ All approved spring traps must, so far as is practicable, be used in a manner that minimises the likelihood of killing, taking or injuring non-target species. It is for the trapper to make sure they comply with these conditions of use, and do not commit any offence.’This assumes that every trapper would have sufficient knowledge about hedgehogs – what they eat, what range of sizes they are, how agile they are etc. to place this trap in such a place and manner as it could not catch a hedgehog. And note the proviso ‘so far as is practicable’.
It seems to me there are too many ifs and maybes to risk putting our beloved hedgehogs (which are supposed to be protected from traps) at risk.
If there is any chance of reaching the minimum necessary total for a debate in Parliament, we all need to sign and encourage others to sign. Please pass the word around.PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION. OUR HEDGEHOGS REALLY NEED YOUR HELP.
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