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Statutory guidance

Shrews: licence to trap them (GL01)

Use this licence to take shrews to ring or mark them, or for scientific or educational purposes.

Updates to this page

From:
Natural England
Published:
9 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.

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

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

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

  6. Annual licence update.

  7. Added accessible version of licence - HTML.

  8. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2020

  9. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2019

  10. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2018

  11. Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2017

  12. Added form for reporting death of shrews in traps set under terms of General Licence GL01. Licence updated to include link to new form, in Condition 3c.

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

  14. Added updated general licence. New version valid between 1 January and 31 December 2015.

  15. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Licence to take shrews (GL01)

HTML

Shrew death report form (GL01 Annex)

MS Word Document, 41 KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

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Details

This licence allows you to trap and mark shrews for scientific or educational purposes. You need to have experience and knowledge of trapping shrews to use this licence.

There’s no need to apply for this general licence but you must follow its conditions. You’ll find these in the licence document.

Use form GL01 Annex to report any shrew deaths while using this licence to Natural England. Send the completed form to wildlife.scicons@naturalengland.org.uk.

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