Technical | PPC106
Given how fast things have changes in the world of bird management over the last few years, it can be hard to keep track of the status of various bird control wildlife licences.
Wildlife licences are regularly reviewed and updated by licencing bodies. Licences are usually reissued at the start of the year, meaning you should re-download, read and understand them regularly.
Take a look at our handy table to see the status of the various public health and safety wildlife licences in the UK.
| |
England |
Scotland |
| In consultation? |
None planned this year |
Review and consultation in 2022 |
| Issued by |
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) |
NatureScot (formerly Scottish Natural Heritage) |
| Valid until (unless revoked) |
31 December 2023 |
31 December 2022 |
Public health and
safety licence |
GL41 |
GL03 |
Permitted target
species for which
action is to be taken |
Licence to kill or take for public health or safety |
To kill or take certain birds for the preservation of public health, public safety and preventing the spread of disease |
| Slips and falls |
Human disease spread |
Bird nesting issues |
Canada goose
(Branta Canadensis) |
√ |
√ |
√ |
√ |
Feral pigeon
(Columba livia) |
√ |
√ |
√ |
√ |
Jackdaw
(Corvus monedula) |
X |
X |
√ |
X |
Monk parakeet
(Myiopsitta monachus) |
X |
X |
√ |
X |
Hooded Crow
(Corvus cornix) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Carrion Crow
(Corvus corone) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Magpie
(Pica pica) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Woodpigeon
(Columba palumbus) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Rook
(Corvus frugilegus) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
House Sparrow
(Passer domesticus) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Starling
(Sturnus vulgaris) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Gulls
(all species) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Other general licences |
GL33: trapping wild birds: standard licence conditions
GL40: general licence to kill or take certain species of wild birds to conserve wild birds, flora or fauna of conservation concern
GL42: General Licence to kill or take certain species of wild birds to
prevent serious damage |
GL01: To kill or take certain birds for the conservation of wild birds
GL02: To kill or take certain birds for the prevention of serious damage to livestock
GL03: To kill or take certain birds for the preservation of public health, public safety and preventing the spread of disease
GL04: To take red grouse using certain methods in order to administer medication or collect samples
GL15: Sale, advertisement, possession and transportation of Greylag geese and Greylag goose meat by hunters, caterers and retailers |
| Methods approved |
Prick eggs, oil eggs, destroy eggs and nests, kill or take by hand
Targeted falconry, trap with a permitted cage trap design
Shoot with any firearm, including semi-automatic weapons, shotguns or airguns
Take birds while not in flight with any hand-held or hand-propelled net |
Prick eggs, oil eggs, destruction of eggs and nests by hand
Targeted falconry, shoot with any firearm, including semi-automatic firearms, shotguns or airguns |
| Traps |
No requirement to register traps |
All traps must also be registered with NatureScot, not Police Scotland |
| What about gulls? |
Apply for an individual licence from Natural England
For urban environments, applicants must submit an Integrated Management Plan. |
Apply for an individual licence from NatureScot. |
| |
Wales |
Northern Ireland |
| In consultation? |
In consultation now - evidence being reviewed |
Pending consultation - licences very likely to change |
| Issued by |
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) |
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) |
| Valid until (unless revoked) |
30 June 2022 |
|
Public health and
safety licence |
GL002 |
TPG02 |
Permitted target
species for which
action is to be taken |
Preservation of public health |
Preventing the spread of disease and preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing
timber and fisheries |
|
Canada goose
(Branta Canadensis) |
√ |
√ |
Feral pigeon
(Columba livia) |
√ |
√ |
Jackdaw
(Corvus monedula) |
X |
√ |
Monk parakeet
(Myiopsitta monachus) |
X |
√ |
Hooded Crow
(Corvus cornix) |
X |
√ |
Carrion Crow
(Corvus corone) |
X |
√ |
Magpie
(Pica pica) |
X |
√ |
Woodpigeon
(Columba palumbus) |
X |
√ |
Rook
(Corvus frugilegus) |
X |
√ |
House Sparrow
(Passer domesticus) |
X |
√ |
Starling
(Sturnus vulgaris) |
X |
√ |
Gulls
(all species) |
X |
X |
| Other general licences |
GL001: Prevention of serious damage to crops and livestock
GL004: Conservation of wild birds
GL005: Allows the management of the ruddy duck |
TPG01
TPG03
BPCA is in conversation with DAERA to secure licences for gull control, as gull species have been removed from all general licences in N Ireland. |
| Methods approved |
Shooting or by any other method not prohibited by Section 5 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 |
Shooting, cage-trap or net
Take, damage or destroy nests
Take or destroy their eggs
Disturb such a bird or the dependant young of such a bird
Any other method not prohibited by Article 6 of the Wildlife
(Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (as amended) |
| Traps |
No requirement to register traps |
|
| What about gulls? |
Apply for an individual licence from NRW. |
NI licences have been replaced with amended, interim licences
Several bird species, notably the three species of gull, have been removed from all general licences. |
REMEMBER:
You don’t need to apply for general licences however you do need to abide by their conditions.
Wildlife licences are devolved so individual nations issue bird control licences.
Licences are reissued regularly and therefore it’s important to understand how to read and follow them.
General disclaimer
Always read your general licence and understand it. Licences can be pulled at any time, so double-check your licence is still available.
You should always exhaust all practicable non-lethal methods of bird control, before you take lethal action.
GOT A LICENSING QUESTION?
If you're a BPCA member, our technical team is on hand to answer your queries.
technical@bpca.org.uk