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• Legal pest control

Wildlife

Wildlife management

• Policy
• Badgers
• Bats
• Non-native species
• Other species
• Pest control
• Plants
• Reptiles
• Weeds
• Wild birds

Legal pest control

Some mammals and birds cause persistant problems and need to be controlled legally, as part of countryside management. The majority of traps set in the countryside are legal, selective and safe.

Responsibility for dealing with problems caused by wild animals in the UK normally rests with the occupier of the land concerned. Defra does not provide a 'pest' control service. This is a matter for individuals, private pest control companies or local authorities to address within the constraints of the law.

• General licences

• Approved spring traps

• The use of snares

• Defra's position on Rodenator - May 2007 [PDF] (15 KB)

• Cage traps [not yet available]

Page last modified: 3 February 2009
Page published: 23 October 2008

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