England - use of artificial light for feral pigeon control will be reinstated under general licence 41 (preserving public health and safety)

[Conor O'Gorman]

BASC update here:

Natural England publishes update on 2026 general licences

Natural England has updated its plans to issue the 2026 general licences GL40–42 for the control of wild birds in England.

basc.org.uk

 

[One on top of two]

Nice

 

[shakey jake]

that is good news

 

[finbar]

Seems sensible! Hopefully a start to more common sense approach
But a doubt it

 

[Greenmist]

Good news and common sense indeed, can I ask @Conor O'Gorman was this due to campaigning please?

 

[Pedro]

Sounds good to me. Is there anyone that has a link to the general licences, assuming that they have been published now?

 

[cjm1066]

Welcome changes, but a huge amount of bureaucracy for NE and us.

Mammals are also covered by the WCA 1981 thankfully without this needless bureaucracy.

Can the two systems be compared and if the bureaucracy achieves nothing dropped, via changes to the law if needed.

 

[jall55]

While they are being sensible lets get the gulls back on it !

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Good news and common sense indeed, can I ask @Conor O'Gorman was this due to campaigning please?

Yes, there were several requests for change from individuals and organisations to be made at next renewal (2026) as per this thread in 2024.

T

Thread 'Roosting Feral pigeon control with artificial light.'

Sep 23, 2024

Is it legal to shoot ferals with nv scopes and thermal at night. I know the law changed.but unsure exactly.

• the prowler
• Replies: 87
• Forum: Legal Issues

The Scotland general licences were updated to allow this from 1 January 2025. Again, the changes were in part prompted by a thread on this forum last year.