Change of https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ruddy-ducks-licence-to-kill-or-take-them

Change description : 2026-01-01 00:01:00: Updated this licence to cover the period 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026. [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2025-01-01 00:12:25.401004369 +00:00..2026-01-01 00:26:38.027345892 +00:00

Statutory guidance

Ruddy ducks: licence to kill or take them (GL21)

Get a general licence to kill or take ruddy ducks, or damage or destroy their nests and eggs.

Applies to England

Documents

Details

This general licence allows authorised people to kill or take ruddy ducks (Oxyura jamaicensis) for conservation purposes. It also allows them to destroy or damage the ducks’ nests and eggs.

You are an authorised person if you’re:

  • the land owner, occupier or anyone authorised by the owner or occupier
  • authorised in writing by the local authority
  • authorised in writing by any England, Scotland or Wales conservation body, a district board for fisheries or local fisheries committee
  • authorised in writing by the Environment Agency, a water undertaker or a sewerage undertaker

You do not need to apply for this general licence but you must meet its conditions and follow its instructions.

How you must use this licence

With this licence you can use a:

  • semi-automatic weapon
  • hand-heldhandheld or hand-propelled net to take birds whilst not in flight
  • cage trap which does not have to satisfy section 8(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act

You must kill birds in a quick and humane manner and observe other animal welfare laws. You cannot sell the birds or their eggs for human consumption.

Updates to this page

Published 31 December 2013

Last updated 1 January 20252026 + show href="#full-history">+ show all updates
    1. Updated this licence to cover the period 1 January to 31 December 2025. Reworded several sections to make the information clearer. Updated licence condition 10 and the 'Avian influenza' information and advice note.

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Update history

2026-01-01 00:01
Updated this licence to cover the period 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026.

2025-01-01 00:01
Updated this licence to cover the period 1 January to 31 December 2025. Reworded several sections to make the information clearer. Updated licence condition 10 and the ‘Avian influenza’ information and advice note.

2024-01-01 00:01
There is an update to this licence for 1 January 2024.

2023-01-01 00:15
Annual licence update, valid from 1 January 2023.