General Licence 004

Licence Number: WCA / GEN / 004 / 2024
Valid from: 1 February 2024
Expiry date: 31 August 2024

Licence to kill or take carrion crow or to take or destroy their nests or eggs for the purpose of conserving wild birds.

Part A. Legal basis and purpose of this licence

1. This licence, granted under Section 16(1)(c) and (5) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) (the Act), by the Natural Resources Body for Wales otherwise known as Natural Resources Wales (NRW), being satisfied as regards the purpose set out in paragraph 2 that there is no other satisfactory solution, permits authorised persons (see Definitions) to carry out the actions set out in paragraph 3.

2. The purpose for which this licence is granted is conserving the eggs or chicks of any of the species of wild birds listed in Annex 1 of this licence.

Part B. What this licence authorises

3. For the purpose set out in paragraph 2 only, this licence permits any authorised person to kill or take carrion crow (Corvus corone), or to take, damage or destroy their nests or to take or destroy their eggs, by the use of:

(i) any method which is not prohibited by Section 5 of the Act;

(ii) a semi-automatic weapon (see Definitions);

(iii) a cage trap, the dimensions of which do not satisfy the requirements of Section 8(1) of the Act.

4. The actions listed in paragraph 3 are authorised between the period 1 February 2024 and 31 August 2024 and subject to compliance with all the conditions listed in Part C.

5. This licence applies in Wales, landward of the mean low water mark.

Iwan G. Hughes, Team Leader Species Permitting
Signed for and on behalf of Natural Resources Wales.

Part C. Conditions

C.1 General conditions

6. Any person intending to use this licence must ensure they have read and understood its terms and conditions prior to carrying out licensed action.

7. Any birds killed in accordance with this licence must be killed in a quick and humane manner, subject to the definition of “kill” in this licence (see Definitions).

8. All reasonable endeavours must be made to quickly and humanely dispatch any bird of the target species (see Definitions) which is injured by the taking of any licensed action.

9. If any animal of a European protected species of animal (see Definitions) or any wild bird of prey (including an owl) is captured, killed or injured in the course of action carried out under this licence, NRW must be advised of that fact as soon as practicable. NRW can be contacted on specieslicence@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

10. This licence does not authorise the taking of any action within, or within the defined buffer zones around, any of the protected sites listed in Annex 2 of this licence.

11. No person convicted of an offence to which this condition applies may use this licence unless, in respect of that offence, either (1) they were dismissed with an admonition, or (2) they are a rehabilitated person for the purposes of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and their conviction is treated as spent. A person may use this licence where, in respect of such an offence, a court has made an order discharging them absolutely. This condition applies to offences under the Act, the Deer Act 1991, the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996, the Hunting Act 2004, the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (all as amended).

C.2 Conditions applying to any use of cage traps under this licence

12. Any cage trap used for the purpose of this licence must be of one of the following types:

(i) a walk in multi-catch cage trap;

(ii) a Larsen trap which does not have any capture compartment mounted directly above the decoy compartment;

(iii) a Larsen mate trap, also known as a clam trap;

(iv) a Larsen pod trap.

13. Any Larsen mate or Larsen pod trap while in use must be secured in place to mitigate the risk of it being dragged away by non-target species.

14. Where a cage trap containing a live decoy bird is used for the purpose of this licence, the decoy must be a carrion crow (Corvus corone).

15. Any live decoy bird used for the purpose of this licence must not be tethered, blinded, maimed or injured in any way, including by wing clipping.

16. Any live decoy bird used for the purpose of this licence must be provided at all times while held captive in a trap with adequate food and water, appropriate shelter and a suitable perch.

17. If any meat or meat based product is used as food for a decoy bird, it must be in chopped or diced form.

18. If any meat or meat based product is used as bait, it must be in chopped or diced form.

19. When a cage trap is in use, the time interval between physical inspections (see Definitions) must not exceed 25 hours.

20. A cage trap must only be set if the person responsible for it is confident that it will be physically inspected with the required frequency. A cage trap must not be set if physical inspection at least every 25 hours is unlikely to be possible, for example due to predicted severe weather or other reasons which may reasonably be anticipated.

21. If due to unforeseen circumstances more than 25 hours elapses before a cage trap is physically inspected, all reasonable efforts must be made to have the trap physically inspected as soon as possible.

22. Any live trapped birds of the target species must as soon as practicable be humanely dispatched or released unharmed, unless they are to be kept for use as decoys.

23. Any bird held captive prior to being killed must be killed out of sight of other captive birds. This condition does not apply to birds caught in multi-catch traps.

24. When a cage trap is not in use, it must be rendered incapable of holding or catching birds or animals.

Part D. Definitions

25. “The Act” means the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as amended.

26. “Authorised person” means:

(i) the owner or occupier, or any person authorised by the owner or occupier, of the land on which the action authorised is taken;

(ii) any person authorised in writing by the local authority for the area within which the action authorised is taken;

(iii) any person authorised in writing by NRW.

The authorisation of any person for the purposes of this definition shall not confer any right of entry upon any land.

27. “European protected species of animal” means a species listed in Schedule 2 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, as amended.

28. “Kill” includes accidentally wounding whilst attempting to kill in accordance with the terms and conditions of this licence.

29. "Physical inspection" means an inspection that is sufficient to check:

(i) whether any animal or bird has been trapped;

(ii) the species and physical condition of any trapped animal or bird;

(iii) the condition of any decoy bird held in the trap;

(iv) whether any decoy bird held within the trap has access to a suitable perch and to food and water of sufficient quantity and condition; and

(v) whether the trap is operating effectively.

A physical inspection requires the person carrying it out to have a clear view of all compartments of the trap and their contents which will normally require being close enough to touch the trap.

30. “Semi-automatic weapon” means any weapon which is not prohibited by Section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 (as amended) and which has a magazine capable of holding more than two rounds of ammunition, where the depression of the trigger ejects a single shot, each subsequent shot requiring a further depression of the trigger.

31. “Target species” means a species which is mentioned in paragraph 3 of this licence.

32. “Wild bird” is as defined in section 27(1) of the Act.

Part E. Advice to licence users

E.1 General advice

33. Failure to act within the terms of this licence as set out in Part B or failure to comply with any of the conditions listed in Part C may mean that the licence cannot be relied upon and an offence may be committed. The maximum penalty in the Magistrates’ Court for an offence under the Act is an unlimited fine or a six month custodial sentence or both.

34. Killing or taking of birds of the target species in order to protect adults of species of birds listed on Annex 1 of this licence, or in order to protect any other species of wild bird, may constitute an offence.

35. This licence may be modified or revoked at any time by NRW.

36. Except as specifically permitted under paragraph 3, this licence does not authorise the use of any method of killing or taking wild birds which is prohibited by Section 5 or Section 8 of the Act.

37. Before carrying out any action authorised by this licence, an authorised person should make reasonable endeavours to achieve the purpose in question using alternative, lawful methods not covered by this licence, and should continue to do so.

38. Anyone intending to control wild birds in any of the sites listed in Annex 1 of this licence or within their buffer zones, should apply to NRW for a specific licence.

39. Users of this licence are responsible for complying with all relevant legislation, including in relation to animal welfare, use of firearms and use of lead shot.

40. Birds should only be shot with a firearm if they are within the effective range of that firearm.

41. When undertaking activities under this licence, authorised persons are advised to carry a copy of the licence.

42. Users of this licence are advised to make a written record of actions taken under this licence, including for example:

any action taken to address the problem using non-lethal alternatives to licensed action;
the reasons why it was decided that non-lethal alternatives were not sufficient to address the problem;
the date(s) and location(s) of licensed action taken;
the number of birds/eggs/nests killed/taken/damaged/destroyed and the method(s) used.

Users are further advised to keep these records for at least three years from the date action was undertaken, and to be able to produce them on request.

E.2 Advice on the use of cage traps

43. Any trap used under this licence should be constructed using materials and components which minimise the risk of animals or birds held within the trap being injured or injuring themselves.

44. Trap design and construction should minimise the risk of catching or harming non-target species without unreasonably compromising the effectiveness of the trap for the humane capture of target species.

45. Users of traps should take appropriate steps to achieve and maintain the necessary level of competence to operate cage traps safely and humanely, which may include training.

46. Traps should be set in locations which minimise the risks of: capture or injury of non-target species; damage to the trap by wild or domesticated birds or animals; interference by unauthorised persons; and harm to trapped birds or animals or decoys while in the trap.

47. Traps should as far as possible not be used during periods of extreme hot or cold weather, or when such conditions are anticipated. If extreme weather is possible, either traps should be positioned where there is natural cover providing protection from exposure to strong winds, rain, snow or direct sun (as applicable), or cover should be provided using artificial means. Traps should not be set in areas which are at risk of flooding.

48. If bait used is used in a trap it should wherever possible be non-meat based. Meat or meat based products should not be used as bait unless absolutely necessary.

49. While in use, traps should wherever possible be physically inspected more frequently than once every 25 hours, and in daylight.

50. All reasonable steps should be taken to ensure the welfare of decoy birds and of any live birds or animals caught in the trap. It is an offence under animal welfare legislation to cause unnecessary suffering to a captive animal or bird.

51. Users of multi-catch traps should make all reasonable efforts to kill birds out of sight of other captive birds unless doing so would result in additional delay and handling resulting in more distress to captive birds.

52. At each inspection of a trap, as soon as practicable:

(i) Any dead animals or birds in the trap should be removed.

(ii) The necessary steps must be taken to ensure that any decoy bird which is to remain in the trap has access to the facilities required for a decoy bird.

(iii) Any live trapped birds of the target species must be humanely dispatched or released unharmed, unless they are to be kept for use as decoys.

(iv) Any live trapped birds or animals of a species other than the target species must as soon as practicable be released, taken or humanely dispatched. Which of these actions should be taken depends on whether the animal or bird is domesticated or wild, whether it is injured and, if it is a wild animal or bird, which species it belongs to, as follows:

(a) a domesticated animal or bird which has no sign of injury should either be released at the point of capture, or returned to its owner;

(b) a domesticated animal or bird which is injured should be taken for veterinary treatment and all reasonable efforts made to notify its owner;

- - - released at the point of capture, unless it is of a species that may not be released without a licence (see below), or
    - humanely dispatched, unless it is of a species that may not be killed without a licence (see below).

(v) If any wild animal or bird confined within a trap is so seriously injured, or otherwise in such a condition that it would be unlikely to survive or for which release would be inhumane, it should be humanely dispatched.

53. An animal or bird of any of the following has specific legislative requirements that must be met:

(i) a species which is not normally resident in, or a regular visitor to, Great Britain

(ii) a species which is listed in Schedule 9 of the Act

(iii) a species which is listed as an invasive alien species of Union concern

You should ensure you are aware of these requirements.

54. An animal or bird of any the following species may not be killed without a licence, unless it is so seriously disabled that there is no reasonable chance of it recovering, or it is of a species which is subject to an open season and it was captured during that open season:

(i) wild birds (any species)

(ii) badger (Meles meles)

(iii) deer (any species)

(iv) a species listed on Schedule 5 of the Act

(v) a species listed on Schedule 2 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, as amended

Annex 1. Species to which paragraph 2 of this licence applies

Common name	Scientific name
Arctic tern	Sterna paradise
Bearded tit	Panurus biarmicus
Bittern	Botaurus stellaris
Black grouse	Lyurus tetrix
Black guillemot	Cepphus grylle
Black-headed gull	Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Bullfinch	Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Chaffinch	Fringilla coelebs
Chough	Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
Common tern	Sterna hirundo
Cuckoo	Cuculus canorus
Curlew	Numenius arquata
Dartford warbler	Sylvia undata
Dunnock	Prunella modularis
Eider	Somateria mollissima
Fulmar	Fulmarus glacialis
Gannet	Morus bassanus
Garden warbler	Sylvia borin
Goldcrest	Regulus regulus
Grasshopper warbler	Locustella naevia
Great black-backed gull	Larus marinus
Greenfinch	Chloris chloris
Grey heron	Ardea cinerea
Grey partridge	Perdix perdix
Grey wagtail	Motacilla cinerea
Guillemot	Uria aalge
Hawfinch	Coccothraustes coccothraustes
Herring gull	Larus argentatus
Honey buzzard	Pernis apivorus
Kittiwake	Rissa tridactyla
Lapwing	Vanellus vanellus
Lesser black-backed gull	Larus fuscus
Lesser redpoll	Acanthis cabaret
Linnet	Carduelis cannabina
Long-eared owl	Asio otus
Meadow pipit	Anthus pratensis
Mediterranean gull	Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
Mistle thrush	Turdus viscivorus
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus
Redshank	Tringa tetanus
Ring ouzel	Turdus torquatus
Ringed plover	Charadrius hiaticula
Rook	Corvus frugilegus
Roseate tern	Sterna dougallii
Sandwich tern	Thalasseus sandvicensis
Shag	Phalacrocorax aristotelis
Skylark	Alauda arvensis
Spotted flycatcher	Muscicapa striata
Tree pipit	Anthus trivialis
Turtle dove	Streptopelia turtur
Whitethroat	Sylvia communis
Woodcock	Scolopax rusticola
Yellow wagtail	Motacilla flava flavissima
Yellowhammer	Emberiza citronella

Annex 2. Protected sites where this licence does not apply

This licence does not authorise any action to be taken within or within 300 metres of the boundary of any of the protected sites listed below (or within 500 metres in the case of the Dyfi Estuary SSSI/SPA).

The locations of these areas can be viewed on Data Map Wales.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Aberarth - Carreg Wylan

Aberdunant

Afon Cleddau Dwyreiniol/Eastern Cleddau River

Afon Cleddau Gorllewinol/Western Cleddau River

Afon Dyfrdwy (River Dee)

Afon Eden - Cors Goch Trawsfynydd

Afon Gwyrfai a Llyn Cwellyn

Afon Irfon

Afon Llynfi

Afon Teifi

Afon Tywi

Afon Wysg (Isafonydd) / River Usk (Tributaries)

Allt y Gaer

Allt y Main Mine

Arfordir Abereiddi

Arfordir Gogleddol Penmon

Bach Howey Gorge

Beech Cottage, Waterwynch

Benarth Wood

Berwyn

Borth - Clarach

Bryn y Gwin Isaf

Bryngwyn Hall Stables and Coach House

Buckland Coach House & Ice House

Cadair Idris

Caeau Coed Mawr (Coedmawr Fields)

Carew Castle

Carreg y Llam

Castell y Waun a'i Barcdir/Chirk Castle and Parkland

Castlemartin Range

Cemlyn Bay

Ceunant a Thyrrau Trefgarn/Treffgarne Gorge and Tors

Chwarel Cambrian/Cambrian Quarry, Gwernymynydd

Cilcenni Dingle

Ciliau

Coed Aberdulas

Coed Aberedw

Coed y Crychydd

Coed y Gopa

Coedydd a Cheunant Rheidol (Rheidol Woods & Gorge)

Coedydd Beddgelert a Cheunant Aberglaslyn

Coedydd De Dyffryn Maentwrog

Coedydd Dyffryn Alwen

Coedydd Dyffryn Ffestiniog (Gogleddol)

Coedydd Nanmor

Colwyn Brook Marshes (North & South)

Cors Caron

Corsydd Llangloffan

Craig yr Aderyn (Bird's rock)

Creigiau Pen y graig

Creigiau Rhiwledyn/Little Ormes Head

Cwm Doethie - Mynydd Mallaen

Dale and South Marloes Coast

De Porth Sain Ffraidd / St Bride's Bay South

Dee Estuary / Aber Afon Dyfrdwy

Dolorgan Barn

Duhonw

Dyfi

Elenydd

Erwood Dingle

Eryri

Felin Llwyngwair

Ffynnon Beuno and Cae Gwyn Caves

Flat Holm

Foxwood

Ganllwyd

Garth-eryr

Glannau Aberdaron

Glannau Rhoscolyn

Glannau Ynys Gybi/ Holy Island Coast

Glascoed, Meifod

Glaslyn

Glyn Cywarch

Glynllifon

Gower Coast: Rhossili to Porteynon

Graig Fawr

Grassholm / Ynys Gwales

Gronant Dunes and Talacre Warren

Gwernydd Penbre

Gweunydd Esgairdraenllwyn (Esgairdraenllwyn Pastures)

Gweunydd Nant y Dernol

Gwlyptiroedd Casnewydd/Newport Wetlands

Hendre, Llangedwyn

Leighton Bat Roosts

Llanddulas Limestone and Gwrych Castle Wood

Llangovan Church

Migneint-Arenig-Dduallt

Milford Haven Waterway

Morfa Harlech

Mwyngloddfa Mynydd-Bach

Mwyngloddiau a Chreigiau Gwydyr

Mwyngloddiau Llanfrothen

Mwyngloddiau Wnion a Eglwys Sant Marc

Mynydd Llangatwg (Mynydd Llangattock)

Mynydd Penarfynnydd

Newborough Warren - Ynys Llanddwyn

Newton Court Stable Block

Orielton Stable Block and Cellars

Park House Outbuildings, Stackpole

Pen y Gogarth / Great Ormes Head

Pengelli Forest and Pant-teg Wood

Penmaenuchaf Hall

Penrice Stables and Underhill Cottage

Penygarnedd Mine

Plas Maenan

Porth Ceiriad, Porth Neigwl ac Ynysoedd Sant Tudwal

Puffin Island

Pwll-y-wrach

Ramsey / Ynys Dewi

Rhagnentydd Gwy Uchaf / Upper Wye Tributaries

Rhos Llawr Cwrt

River Ithon

River Lugg

River Teme

River Usk (Lower Usk)/Afon Wysg (Wysg Isaf)

River Usk (Upper Usk) / Afon Wysg (Wysg Uchaf)

River Wye (Lower Wye) / Afon Gwy (Gwy Isaf)

River Wye (Tributaries)/Afon Gwy (Isafonydd)

River Wye (Upper Wye) / Afon Gwy (Gwy Uchaf)

Rose Cottage, Llethrid

Ruperra Castle and Woodlands

Scoveston Fort

Shotton Lagoons and Reedbeds

Siambre Ddu

Skokholm

Skomer Island and Middleholm

Slebech Stable Yard Loft, Cellars & Tunnels

St. David's Peninsula Coast

St. Margaret's Island

Stackpole

Stackpole Courtyard Flats and Walled Garden

The Offshore Islets of Pembrokeshire / Ynysoedd Glannau Penfro

The Skerries

Twyni Lacharn - Pentywyn / Laugharne - Pendine Burrows

Ty Bach Ystlumod

West Llangynog Slate Mine

Wye Valley

Ynys Enlli

Ynys Feurig

Ynysoedd y Gwylanod, Gwylan Islands

Ysbyty Bron y Garth

Yr Eifl

Special Protection Areas

Anglesey Terns / Morwenoliaid Ynys Môn

Berwyn

Burry Inlet

Castlemartin Coast

Craig yr Aderyn (Bird's Rock)

Dyfi Estuary / Aber Dyfi

Elenydd-Mallaen

Glannau Aberdaron ac Ynys Enlli / Aberdaron Coast and Bardsey Island

Glannau Ynys Gybi / Holy Island Coast

Grassholm

Liverpool Bay / Bae Lerpwl

Migneint-Arenig-Dduallt

Mynydd Cilan, Trwyn y Wylfa ac Ynysoedd Sant Tudwal

Ramsey and St David's Peninsula Coast

Severn Estuary

Skomer, Skokholm and the seas off Pembrokeshire / Sgomer, Sgogwm a Moroedd Penfro

The Dee Estuary

Traeth Lafan / Lavan Sands, Conway Bay

Ynys Seiriol / Puffin Island

Special Areas of Conservation

Afon Eden-Cors Goch Trawsfynydd

Afon Gwyrfai a Llyn Gwellyn

Afon Teifi / River Teifi

Afon Tywi / River Tywi

Afonydd Cleddau / Cleddau Rivers

Cardigan Bay / Bae Ceredigion

Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries / Bae Caerfyrddin ac Aberoedd

Coedydd Derw a Safleoedd Ystlumod Meirion / Meirionnydd Oakwoods and Bat Sites

Cors Caron

Dee Estuary / Aber Dyfrydwy

Glynllifon

Limestone Coast of South West Wales / Afordir Calchfaen De Orllewin Cymr

Mwyngloddiau Fforest Gwydir / Gwydyr Forest Mines

North Pembrokeshire Woodlands / Coedydd Gogledd Sir Benfro

Pembrokeshire Bat Sites and Bosherston Lakes/ Safleoedd Ystlum Sir Benfro a Llynnoedd Bosherston

Pembrokeshire Marine / Sir Benfro Forol

Pen Llŷn ar Sarnau / Lleyn Peninsula and the Sarnau

River Dee and Bala Lake / Afon Dyfrydwy a Llyn Tegid

River Usk / Afon Wysg

River Wye / Afon Gwy

Tanat and Vyrnwy Bat Sites / Safleoedd Ystlumod Tanat Ac Efyrnwy

Usk Bat Sites / Safloedd Ystlumod Wysg

Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Bat Sites / Safleoedd Ystlumod Dyffryn Gwy

Wye Valley Woodlands / Coetiroedd Dyffryn Gwy

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