GovWire

You can use this general licence if youre a farmer or keeper of vulnerable livestock, or any person authorised by them.

Use this licence to prevent serious damage to the following livestock which are vulnerable to predation by stoats:

• domestic poultry and waterfowl
• game birds and wildfowl while held captive within a fenced pen
• rabbits farmed for food

This licence allows you to trap stoats using traps certified for use against stoat in England.

You do not need to apply for this general licence but you must comply with its terms and conditions.

When you must apply for an individual licence

You must apply to Natural England for an individual licence if you need to carry out activities that are not permitted by this licence.

Humane trapping guidance

Badgers, beavers, otters, pine martens and stoats: how to trap humanely.

Avian influenza (bird flu)

Avian influenza (bird flu) is a notifiable animal disease. You should use the online service to report dead wild birds if you find:

• 1 or more dead birds of prey (such as an owl, hawk or buzzard)
• 3 or more dead birds that include at least 1 gull, swan, goose or duck
• 5 or more dead wild birds of any species