General licences

General licences

Photo of a Larsen Trap General licences are issued by government agencies to provide a legal basis for people to carry out a range of activities relating to wildlife.  By definition you do not need to apply for general licences but you are required by law to abide by their terms and conditions.

General licences are renewed annually in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.  These general licences are made available on the websites of the relevant government agencies and include those general licences relevant to the all year round control of ‘pest birds’ such as magpie and woodpigeon.  Control methods allowed under general licence may include shooting, the destruction of eggs and nests,  and the use of larsen traps and multi-catch traps.

England

Click here for English general licences vaild until 31 December 2010

Scotland

Click here for Scottish general licences valid until 31 December 2010

Wales

Click here for Welsh general licences vaild until 31 December 2010

Northern Ireland

Click here for Northern Irish general licences valid until 10 September 2010

Pest birds checklist

In the table below, ‘Y’ (for Yes) means that it may be possible to kill birds of this species for the main purposes allowed under general licence, ie. conserving wild birds, preventing damage and disease or preserving public health and public safety. This is a broad overview and as such BASC advises you to make sure that your purpose and your method of control is supported by the relevant general licence listing that species. You can do that by downloading copies of the relevant general licences in your country from the links above.
 

Species

England

Scotland

Wales

Northern
Ireland

Canada Goose

Y

N

N

N

Carrion Crow

Y

Y

Y

Y

Collared Dove

Y

Y

Y

N

Egyptian Goose

Y

N

N

N

Feral Pigeon

Y

Y

Y

Y

Great Black-backed Gull

N

Y

Y

Y

Herring Gull

N

Y

Y

Y

House Sparrow

N

N

Y

Y

Jackdaw

Y

Y

Y

Y

Jay

Y

Y

Y

N

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Y

Y

Y

Y

Magpie

Y

Y

Y

Y

Monk Parakeet

Y

N

N

N

Ring-necked Parakeet

Y

N

N

N

Rook

Y

Y

Y

Y

Ruddy Duck

Y

N

N

N

Starling

N

N

Y

Y

Woodpigeon

Y

Y

Y

Y

Pest and Predator Control 

More general information is available from the BASC website on the control of avian and mammalian pests and predators, including relevant BASC codes of practice. 

Click here for information on Pest and Predator Control

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