Wildlife
The wildlife team of EHS are responsible for the implementation of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 
as amended by the Wildlife (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 and The Zoo Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003.
The Wildlife Northern Ireland ) Order 1985 (as amended) is equivalent of Part I of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in England and Wales and the Wildlife Act 1976 as amended by the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 in the Republic of Ireland.
This order gives EHS the power to issue licences to permit otherwise prohibited action to be taken to resolve problems where there is no other satisfactory solution.
The licensing system safeguards the conservation and welfare of wild animals but provides a way to allow action to be taken when necessary. Further information on wildlife law in Northern Ireland can be found in The Wildlife Law and You (.pdf 1.07MB) booklet.
General licences are issued annually and can be downloaded from this site (click appropriate link below). A hard copy of these licences can be obtained from Anne Murray at Biodiversity Unit, Klondyke Building, Cromac Avenue, Gasworks Business Park, Lower Ormeau Road, Belfast BT7 2JA or Telephone: 02890569605.
All general licences are subject to certain conditions of use. These licences do not give any right of access or right to take action to otherwise unauthorised persons. You should read a copy of the relevant licence in addition to the information below before undertaking any action.
Licences
An application form for wildlife licences (pdf 112KB) can be downloaded or a hard copy is available from the address above.
To kill or take certain birds TPG/1 (pdf 244KB)
General license to kill or take certain birds, including the taking, damaging or destruction of their eggs, or the disturbance of such a bird or the young of such a bird for the purpose of preserving public health or public safety.
To kill or take certain birds TPG/2 (pdf 168KB)
General license to kill or take certain birds, including the taking, damaging or destruction of their eggs, or the disturbance of such a bird or the young of such a bird for the purpose of preventing the spread of disease and preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber and fisheries.
To kill or take certain birds TPG/3 (pdf 156KB)
General license to kill or take certain birds, including the taking, damaging or destruction of their eggs, or the disturbance of such a bird or the young of such a bird for the purpose of conserving wild birds.
To sell, etc, dead wild foxes G/1 (pdf 84KB)
Licence to sell, etc, dead wild foxes. This licence granted under Article 18 (4) of The Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, permits any person to sell offer or expose for sale, or to have in their possession or to transport or cause to be transported for the purpose of sale at any premises any dead wild fox or any parts or anything derived from a dead wild fox.
This licence, granted under Article (18)(2)(b) permits an authorised person to take first clutch mallard eggs and to have, in their possession, such eggs and any birds hatched from such eggs.
To possess mallard eggs for incubation and to possess mallard for release G/2/2008 (.pdf 35.6KB)
This licence, granted under Article (18)(2)(b) permits any person to have in their possession mallard eggs for incubation or live mallard ducks for release in the wild.
The EC Zoos Directive 1999/22/EC relates to the keeping of wild animals in zoos and requires that member states licence and inspect zoos to ensure good standards of animal care and set the framework for the participation of zoos in conservation and education. This came into effect in Northern Ireland as The Zoo Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003.