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Carrion crows: licence to kill or take them to prevent serious damage to livestock (GL26)

Get a general licence to kill or take carrion crows, or destroy their nests and eggs to prevent serious damage to vulnerable livestock.

From:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Natural England
Published
26 April 2019
Last updated
9 November 2020 — See all updates

This publication was withdrawn on

This licence expired on 31 December 2020.

From 1 January 2021, you may use general licence GL42 for some activities to prevent serious damage, or you may need to apply for an individual licence.

Applies to England

Documents

Licence to kill or take carrion crows to prevent serious damage to livestock (GL26)

PDF, 683 KB, 12 pages

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Details

This licence was withdrawn on 31 December 2020.

From 1 January 2021, you may use general licence GL42 for some activities to prevent serious damage, or you may need to apply for an individual licence.

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

Use this licence to prevent serious damage to livestock vulnerable to predation by carrion crows which are:

  • sheep (including lambs)
  • piglets
  • domestic poultry and waterfowl
  • reared game birds and wildfowl

This licence allows you to:

  • kill or take of carrion crows
  • take, damage or destroy carrion crow nests and eggs

You must use permitted methods of control stated on the licence and comply with its other 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
  • on or near sites that are protected for birds

To find sites protected for birds, click on the MAGIC interactive map. The orange hatched areas show where you must apply for an individual licence.

To zoom in for more detail:

  • click on the ‘+’ symbol below the on-screen compass
  • drag the map to your location using the mouse or trackpad

Updates to this page

Published 26 April 2019
Last updated 9 November 2020 + show all updates

  1. General licence GL26 is being withdrawn on 31 December 2020.

  2. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 August 2020

  3. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 March 2020

  4. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2020

  5. Updated information on how to find areas protected for birds.

  6. Updated version of licence.

  7. Updated version of licence.

  8. Updated version of licence.

  9. First published.

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