Wildlife Licensing

• Application form for wildlife licences (.PDF 109Kb)

           Apply online for a wildlife licence

Bats

• Application form for exclusion of bats from domestic dwellings (.PDF 88Kb)
• Application for Licence Exclusion of Bats for Development Purposes (.PDF 126Kb)

Application for a licence to Disturb or Take Bats for Purposes Other Than Development (.PDF 217Kb)

Birds

• To kill or take certain birds TPG/1 (.PDF 497Kb)

General license to kill or take certain birds, including the taking, damaging or destruction of their eggs, or the disturbance of such a bird or the young of such a bird for the purpose of preserving public health or public safety.

• To kill or take certain birds TPG/2 (.PDF 496Kb)

General license to kill or take certain birds, including the taking, damaging or destruction of their eggs, or the disturbance of such a bird or the young of such a bird for the purpose of preventing the spread of disease and preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber and fisheries.

• To kill or take certain birds TPG/3 (.PDF 489Kb)

General license to kill or take certain birds, including the taking, damaging or destruction of their eggs, or the disturbance of such a bird or the young of such a bird for the purpose of conserving wild birds.

• To take mallard eggs for the purposes of incubation and subsequent release of the birds (.PDF 48.5Kb)

This licence, granted under Article (18)(2)(b) permits an authorised person to take first clutch mallard eggs and to have, in their possession, such eggs and any birds hatched from such eggs.

• To possess mallard eggs for incubation and to possess mallard for release (.PDF 35.6Kb)

This licence, granted under Article (18)(2)(b) permits any person to have in their possession mallard eggs for incubation or live mallard ducks for release in the wild.

• Licence to hold birds of prey (.PDF 98Kb):

Under the terms of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 it is necessary for any person wishing to keep a bird of prey which is ordinarily resident in, or is a visitor to, the European territory of any member state to be in possession of a licence issued by the Department.

• Licence to Shoot Cormorants (.PDF 67Kb)

for the Purpose of Preventing Serious Damage to Fisheries: Information for those owner/operators requiring licences to protect their inland fishing interests.

Photography

• Code for photography (.PDF 80Kb)

Guidance for those wishing to undertake photography of protected birds and animals. The welfare of the subject being photographed must always take precedence over the desire or need to obtain a photograph.

Zoos

The EC Zoos Directive 1999/22/EC relates to the keeping of wild animals in zoos and requires that member states licence and inspect zoos to ensure good standards of animal care and set the framework for the participation of zoos in conservation and education. This came into effect in Northern Ireland as The Zoo Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003.

PAW NI

The Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime in Northern Ireland (PAW) is a multi agency body comprising representatives of all organisations involved in wildlife law enforcement. It provides opportunities for statuatory and non Government organisations to work together to combat wildlife crime.

• Information leaflet on PAW NI (.PDF 336Kb)

Rat Poison

See the RSPB leaflet Rat poison and the threat to wildlife (.PDF976Kb) for advice to landowners on methods of rat control to minimise the effect on wildlife.