Wild birds and animals: licence to release certain schedule 9 species (GL22)
Get a general licence to release native and formerly native wild bird or animal species whose release is normally prohibited.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
It’s an offence to release certain wild birds and animals under schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act. However with this general licence you can release certain native and formerly native species if you:
- took them to tend and rehabilitate, and they now need to be released
- accidentally caught them in a trap or net set for another species
- took them temporarily under a Natural England licence (such as to ring or mark a bird)
This licence applies to:
- barn owl
- capercaillie
- common crane
- corncrake
- Eurasian beaver
- northern goshawk
- red-billed chough
- red kite
- white-tailed eagle
- wild boar
You do not need to apply for this general licence but you must meet its conditions and follow its instructions to use it.
You must comply with relevant animal welfare legislation at all times.
Details
It’s an offence to release certain wild birds and animals under schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act. However with this general licence you can release certain native and formerly native species if you:
- took them to tend and rehabilitate, and they now need to be released
- accidentally caught them in a trap or net set for another species
- took them temporarily under a Natural England licence (such as to ring or mark a bird)
This licence applies to:
- barn owl
- capercaillie
- common crane
- corncrake
- Eurasian beaver
- northern goshawk
- red-billed chough
- red kite
- white-tailed eagle
- wild boar
You do not need to apply for this general licence but you must meet its conditions and follow its instructions to use it.
You must comply with relevant animal welfare legislation at all times.
Updates to this page
Last updated 1 January
-
Updated this licence to cover the period 1 January to 31 December 2025. Reworded several sections to make the information clearer. Updated the 'Avian influenza' information and advice note.
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 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.