Statutory guidance

Red squirrels and pine martens: licence to sell dead specimens (GL20)

Get a general licence to sell dead wild red squirrels and pine martens.

Applies to England

Documents

Details

With this general licence you can sell and advertise that you are selling dead wild:

  • red squirrels
  • pine martens

You must provide evidence with each sale to prove that the specimen was legally acquired.

You do not need to apply for this general licence but you must meet its conditions and follow its instructions.

Records you need to keep

As these wild animals are normally protected, you must keep records for 2 years from each sale. For the sale of every animal (or its part or derivative) you need to record:

  • from whom you acquired it
  • to whom you sold it
  • the species, age and cause of death (if known)

By 31 December each year you must send Natural England the details of any dead wild animals you’ve sold in that year that have not previously been sold. You should send the details by email to wildlife@naturalengland.org.uk. You need to state:

  • how you acquired each animal
  • the type and number of each species sold
Published 31 December 2013
Last updated 1 January 2024 + show all updates
  1. There is an update to this licence for 1 January 2024.

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

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

  4. Annual licence update.

  5. Accessible version of licence added - HTML.

  6. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2020

  7. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2019

  8. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2018

  9. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2017

  10. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2016.

  11. new version of GL20 valid 1 January to 31 December 2015

  12. First published.