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Statutory guidance

Edible dormice: licence to trap them (CL02)

Get a licence to trap edible dormice for health and safety and other purposes.

Updates to this page

From:
Natural England
Published:
6 October 2014
Last updated:
1 January 2026
Show all updates

  1. Updated this licence to cover the period 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2030.

  2. Updated this licence to cover the period 1 January to 31 December 2025. Reworded several sections to make the information clearer, including the sections on 'Registering to use this licence', 'Recording and reporting requirements' and 'Annex A'.

  3. We've corrected an error in licence 'condition 16'. This referred to the consequence if 'condition 14 is not met', but it should be 'if condition 15 is not met'.

  4. There is an update to this licence for 1 January 2024.

  5. Annual licence update, valid from 1 January 2023.

  6. Annual licence update, valid from 1 January 2022.

  7. Added Spring Traps Approval (Variation) (England) Order 2021 to section 8 of the licence, which means using a Goodnature A24 rat and stoat trap is allowed.

  8. Annual licence update.

  9. Accessible version of licence added - HTML.

  10. Details of the permitted spring traps and reference form added.

  11. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2020

  12. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2019

  13. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2018

  14. Annual licence update 2017.

  15. Replaced licence with new version issued on 1 January 2016.

  16. Added revised version of licence. Change to requirements for applicants under note 'g' and information on protected sites under note 'v'.

  17. Updated class licence. New version valid from 1 January to 31 December 2015.

  18. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Licence to trap edible dormice (CL02)

HTML

Edible dormice: licence reference form

ODT, 35.7 KB

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Details

This licence allows you to trap edible dormice (also known as fat dormice) to preserve public health and safety and to prevent serious damage to crops, fruit, timber and other property. It allows you to use appropriate live capture traps or approved spring traps.

Approved spring traps

You can only use:

  • Kania trap 2000
  • Kania trap 2500
  • Solway spring trap Mk4
  • Solway spring trap Mk6
  • Goodnature A24 rat and stoat trap

Edible dormice that are captured alive must not be released into the wild and must be humanely killed.

Register to use this licence

This is a class licence. You need to register with Natural England by sending an email to wildlife@naturalengland.org.uk with:

  • your name and contact details
  • details of any relevant experience or qualifications you have
  • the name of the pest control company you work for and any relevant professional memberships you hold (if applicable)
  • completed licence reference form if you are not a professional pest controller (attached to this page)
  • the make and model of the spring trap you’re using (if applicable)

How to report your actions

You must send an annual record of all edible dormice captured under this licence to Natural England by 31 January each year. Doing this also renews your registration to use this licence. If you do not submit an annual report, you’ll need to register again.

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