Worried about wildlife?
If someone has done something illegal to a wild animal, please contact the police or contact us.
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
This legislation protects wild birds and other animals in England and Wales. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is viewable online.
View Scotland's Wildlife and Natural Environment Act 2011 online.
The major points of the Act are outlined here:
- Wild birds - all wild birds, their nests and eggs are protected. It's an offence to intentionally disturb certain species of bird while they're nesting.
- Shooting birds - some species of bird can be shot outside the breeding season.
- Selling birds - some species of bird can be sold if they've been bred in captivity and fitted with a ring.
- Injured birds can be treated, provided that they're released afterwards. If seriously injured, they may be humanely put down.
- Endangered species - certain endangered species, such as red squirrels, are protected.
- Common animals, such as the fox or rabbit, aren't protected, but some methods used to kill them are prohibited, such as self-locking snares.
- Non-native animals - it's against the law to release or allow to escape, non-native animals such as Canada geese or mink.
- Licences - these can be issued by Natural England or Natural Resources Wales so that landowners or an 'authorised person' can take action against certain species for specific reasons (as defined by the licence).
- People legally killing animals must take precautions to prevent protected species from being killed or injured.
Creating stronger laws to protect wildlife
Every year, many wild animals in Britain suffer avoidable harm - injury, displacement, or death - often without consequences. One key reason is that our wildlife laws are outdated and inconsistent, with some dating back to the 1820s.
These inconsistent laws make it difficult to prevent cruelty or hold people accountable when animals are harmed. Even when cases do go to court, the punishments often don’t reflect the seriousness of the suffering caused.
In a new report with Humane World for Animals UK, we explore how inefficient laws and legal complexities don't provide sufficient protection for wild animals, and why a single Wildlife Act could make a real difference.
A single, up-to-date law would help protect wild animals more effectively and support those working to care for them. It’s a crucial first step in our work to ensure all wildlife is treated with the care and respect it deserves.
The full report can be accessed from the Anglia Ruskin University Research Repository
