Guidance

Cage-trapping and dispatch of badgers under licence to prevent the spread of bovine TB in cattle

Guidance for licensed operators to carry out cage-trapping and dispatch of badgers.

Documents

Cage-trapping and dispatch of badgers under licence to prevent the spread of bovine TB in cattle

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email [email protected]. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

This guidance provides:

  • clear direction to licensed operators on cage-trapping and dispatch of badgers
  • recommendations on best practice
  • highlights those areas of the technique that licensed operators must comply with, including licence conditions

This guidance does not confer any authority to undertake the actions described. These actions may only be undertaken where:

  • Natural England has issued a specific licence under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 authorising the killing of badgers
  • in accordance with Class Licences WML-CL04 and WML-CL05, as appropriate

Those acting under licence must:

  • comply with all conditions
  • take all reasonable steps to carry out licensed operations safely and humanely

Updates to this page

Published 26 August 2014
Last updated 30 August 2022 + show all updates
  1. The COVID-secure practices section has been updated.

  2. Replaced PDF with revised version dated April 2021.

  3. Guidance document updated.

  4. First published.

Sign up for emails or print this page