Last week Natural England published a new license to kill or take carrion crows (GL26), which is the first document of the updated series of licenses to control certain wild birds.
The general license to control certain wild bird species was revoked on 23 April 2019 following a legal challenge brought by environmental group Wild Justice. Before the updated licenses were published, landowners and farmers had to apply for an individual license to control these animals.
The new license allows for the:
So far only crows were addressed and the remaining licenses for controlling certain wild birds are to be published in the coming days and weeks. Natural England aims to publish new licenses as quickly as possible, beginning with the species that are most likely to require urgent control.
From now on landowners and farmers, where for example crows cause harm to new lambs, can now control these birds, and can do so without applying for an individual license. For people that need to urgently control other species for which a license has not been issued yet, Natural England has published a simplified online application system for individual wild bird control licenses.
