bobjs
Well-Known Member
The current legal options for bird pest control in England are outlined below:
Woodpigeon
You can shoot woodpigeon to prevent serious damage to crops under general licence GL31. You do not need to apply for this licence. You can sell any woodpigeon that you shoot.
Click here for woodpigeon general licence GL31.
Carrion Crow
You can shoot and trap carrion crows to prevent serious damage to livestock under general licence GL26. You do not need to apply for this licence. This general licence allows the use of Larsen traps and other cage traps to catch carrion crows.
Click here for carrion crow general licence GL26.
Canada Goose
You can shoot Canada geese to preserve public health and safety under general licence GL28. You do not need to apply for this licence.
Click here for Canada goose general licence GL28.
For other bird pest control
If the above general licences do not cover your circumstances to kill or take woodpigeon, carrion crow or Canada goose, you need to apply for an individual licence from Natural England.
If you need to kill or take birds such as magpie, feral pigeon, collared dove, jackdaw, jay, rook, lesser black-backed gull or herring gull in England, you need to apply for an individual licence from Natural England.
Click here to apply for an individual licence from Natural England.
Larsen traps and other cage traps
The only circumstance in which you can use Larsen traps, or other cage traps, is to catch carrion crows to prevent serious damage to livestock under general licence GL26 (see above).
If you need to use a cage trap to catch carrion crows for other reasons, or to trap other birds such as magpies, you need to apply for an individual licence from Natural England.
Click here to apply for an individual licence from Natural England.
Woodpigeon
You can shoot woodpigeon to prevent serious damage to crops under general licence GL31. You do not need to apply for this licence. You can sell any woodpigeon that you shoot.
Click here for woodpigeon general licence GL31.
Carrion Crow
You can shoot and trap carrion crows to prevent serious damage to livestock under general licence GL26. You do not need to apply for this licence. This general licence allows the use of Larsen traps and other cage traps to catch carrion crows.
Click here for carrion crow general licence GL26.
Canada Goose
You can shoot Canada geese to preserve public health and safety under general licence GL28. You do not need to apply for this licence.
Click here for Canada goose general licence GL28.
For other bird pest control
If the above general licences do not cover your circumstances to kill or take woodpigeon, carrion crow or Canada goose, you need to apply for an individual licence from Natural England.
If you need to kill or take birds such as magpie, feral pigeon, collared dove, jackdaw, jay, rook, lesser black-backed gull or herring gull in England, you need to apply for an individual licence from Natural England.
Click here to apply for an individual licence from Natural England.
Larsen traps and other cage traps
The only circumstance in which you can use Larsen traps, or other cage traps, is to catch carrion crows to prevent serious damage to livestock under general licence GL26 (see above).
If you need to use a cage trap to catch carrion crows for other reasons, or to trap other birds such as magpies, you need to apply for an individual licence from Natural England.
Click here to apply for an individual licence from Natural England.