Form

Licence to possess and move dead beavers for post-mortem health and disease screening

Updated 7 December 2023

Applies to England

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/beavers-licence-to-possess-and-move-dead-beavers-for-post-mortem-testing-gl44/licence-to-possess-and-move-dead-beavers-for-post-mortem-health-and-disease-screening

You must comply with the conditions of this licence if you possess and move dead beavers (Castor fiber) for post-mortem testing. You do not need to apply for this licence or report your actions.

Apply to Natural England for a different beaver licence if:

  • this licence does not cover the activity you need to carry out
  • you cannot comply with the licence terms and conditions

When this licence is valid

You can use this licence from 1 January to 31 December each year.

Natural England will reissue this licence each year on 1 January.

Check the terms and conditions of this licence before you use it for the first time and each year in case of amendments.

Condition 1: What this licence allows

This licence allows you to possess and move dead beavers for post-mortem health and disease testing by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).

To rely on this licence, you must:

  • have lawfully taken the carcass from the wild, or fenced enclosures, in England
  • possess the carcass only to submit it for post-mortem testing
  • send the carcass to Zoological Society of London within 5 days

The Zoological Society of London can rely on this licence to possess beaver carcasses for post-mortem testing and to send samples for further analysis.

Other testing facilities can rely on this licence to possess samples sent to them by ZSL for further analysis.

You must not possess or move beaver carcasses for any other reason.

Condition 2: Who can use this licence

Anyone can use this licence to temporarily possess a dead beaver that they plan to send for post-mortem testing.

The Zoological Society of London can use this licence to:

  • keep beaver carcasses until their health and disease testing is complete
  • send samples of the carcass to other facilities for further analysis

Testing facilities that receive samples from ZSL can use this licence until their tests are complete.

Who cannot use this licence

You cannot use this licence if you have been convicted of a wildlife offence on or after 1 January 2010, unless one or both of the following applies:

  • you have served your conviction and are a rehabilitated person under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
  • a court has made an order discharging you of the wildlife offence

Condition 3: Where you can use this licence

You can only use this licence in England. The licence applies to all counties in England, inland from where the sea reaches at low tide.

Access to private land

This licence does not give you permission to access private land.

You must get permission from the landowner or occupier, where necessary, before you access their land to carry out licensed activities.

Licensed activity on a nature reserve

You must not take a dead beaver from a National Nature Reserve or a Marine Nature Reserve without written permission from Natural England’s Responsible Officer for the site.

Contact the Natural England Enquiry Service if you need to speak to the responsible officer. They will pass your details onto the responsible officer, who will contact you directly.

Advice: protected sites

Land can have different protected statuses. These include:

  • sites of special scientific interest (SSSI)
  • European sites, such as special protection areas (SPAs) and special areas of conservation (SACs)
  • Ramsar sites – a protected wetland area

Penalties if you do not follow the licence conditions

This licence authorises actions that would otherwise be against the law.

If you do not follow the conditions of this licence, you could be committing an offence against the Habitats Regulations. You could:

  • receive a prison sentence for up to 6 months
  • be given an unlimited fine
  • lose your permission to use this licence

If you do not follow the licence conditions, you cannot rely on the licence. This means you will effectively be acting without a licence and committing an offence.

Natural England issues this licence under regulation 55 sections 2(a), 2(e) and 2(f) of the Conservation of Habitats and Species regulations 2017 (as amended).

Natural England has used the common name in this licence for guidance only. In the case of disputes or proceedings, Natural England will only consider the scientific name of the species. For beavers, the scientific name is ‘Castor fiber’.

Natural England or the Secretary of State can modify or revoke this licence at any time. They will not do this without good reason.

Wildlife crime

A wildlife crime is an offence under the:

  • Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017
  • Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
  • Protection of Badgers Act 1992
  • Deer Act 1991, the Hunting Act 2004
  • Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996
  • Animal Welfare Act 2006
  • Protection of Animals Act 1911 (all as amended)

Get help with this licence

If you find a dead beaver, contact the Enquiry Service for advice.

Natural England Enquiry Service
Telephone: 0300 060 3900
Email: enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk

Contact the Natural England Wildlife Licence team if you have a question about this licence or do not know what the licence allows.

Natural England Wildlife Licensing team
Telephone: 020 802 61089
Email: wildlife.scicons@naturalengland.org.uk

Wildlife Licensing, Operations Delivery
Natural England
Horizon House
Deanery Road
Bristol
BS1 5AH

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