By Felix Meister, D.Phil., Advisor Scotland
NatureScot has issued new General Licences for 2026, which are in effect from 1 January to 31 December 2026. Wildlife managers operating under General Licences are required to understand the current licences and comply with their terms and conditions.
Of chief concern for wildlife managers are:
Last year, the 2025 licences saw some changes that allowed for the new requirements of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 as well as the Scottish Kept Bird Register. The new licences for 2026 include no substantive changes compared to last year.
One notable addition is the refence to a new Statement of reasons for General Licences, which aims to offer clarity about the inclusion of target species for each licence. The Statement uses the same threefold testing method also applied for other licences by NatureScot. It tests if controlling a certain species 1) agrees with the licensable purpose, 2) has no other satisfactory solution, and 3) is not detrimental to Favourable Conservation Status of that species. Each species previously included in General Licences has passed all three tests.
After some delay, 2026 is also expected to witness the implementation of the new Wildlife Trap Licences. Anyone unsure about the provisions of these licences is encouraged to contact scottishadvisory@gwct.org.uk.