Craig MeighanWednesday 24 June 2026 05:55 EDT

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• People using pest control glue traps face up to a year in prison | The Independent

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People found using glue traps in Scotland could face severe penalties, including up to a year in prison, as a nationwide ban on the pest control method comes into effect next month.

Described by the Scottish Government as “indiscriminate and cruel”, these devices are criticised for their inability to differentiate between target pests and other creatures.

Any animal coming into contact with the traps risks becoming ensnared, leading to prolonged distress or even death for non-target species such as songbirds.

From July 1, the use, supply, or possession of glue traps will constitute a criminal offence, carrying potential fines of up to £40,000 or a maximum of 12 months imprisonment. This follows the recent passing of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024.

The implementation of this ban was delayed by two years due to the UK Government’s Internal Market Act 2020, which generally mandates that goods lawfully sold in one part of the UK must be available across the entire nation. Scottish ministers successfully sought an exemption for glue traps from these internal market rules, paving the way for the prohibition to proceed.

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Jim Fairlie, minister for agriculture and connectivity, said: “Glue traps are indiscriminate and cruel.

“They have no place in a Scotland that takes its responsibilities to wildlife and animal welfare seriously.

“This ban sends a clear message that we will not tolerate methods that cause unnecessary suffering.

“Now that the legal barriers put in place by the UK Government’s Internal Market Act which delayed this ban have been resolved, we can move forward with confidence, knowing we have the tools to enforce it fully.”

The ban applies to vertebrate animals, with invertebrates not being covered by the legislation.

The offences will also apply to anyone who knowingly causes or permits another person to use or supply a glue trap.

Australia reports second H5N1 bird flu case in migratory seabird

By Reuters

Australia reports second H5N1 bird flu case in migratory seabird | Reuters

June 21, 20268:45 PM PDTUpdated 11 hours ago

SYDNEY, June 22 (Reuters) – Australia reported a second case of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu in ​Western Australia on Monday, after confirming its first over the ‌weekend, as the government vowed to rein in the spread of the virus.

A migratory seabird known as a northern giant petrel found sick on a remote ​beach tested positive, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said, after a brown ​skua case on Saturday. Both birds were found near ⁠the coastal town of Esperance, about 570 km (350 miles) southeast of ​the state capital of Perth.

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“We’re working very closely with both the chicken, ​meat and the egg poultry system and industries to do everything that we can do and improve biosecurity, and those systems and those areas to stop it ​from getting into those production systems,” Collins said.

“Can we do that ​forever? We don’t know the answer to that, that is a hypothetical,” she added.

Human ‌infections ⁠remain rare, but the global spread of avian influenza has devastated flocks, disrupted supplies and pushed up food prices in recent years.

Until now, Australia had been the only continent without a confirmed mainland case, though ​the virus was ​detected in late ⁠2025 on the sub-Antarctic territory of Heard Island.

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In its efforts to tackle bird flu, Australia has tightened ​farm biosecurity, increased testing of shorebirds, vaccinated vulnerable species ​and conducted ⁠response simulations.

Poultry producer Inghams (ING.AX), opens new tab said it would move to a complete lockdown as a precaution across all farms and processing sites in Western Australia.

“There ⁠has ​been no detection in commercial poultry, which ​includes Ingham’s operations and its supply chain,” Inghams said in a statement.

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Reporting by Christine Chen ​and Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Alasdair Pal and Himani Sarkar