Carrickfergus Borough Council - Wildlife Law

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Wildlife Law

Wildlife Law Advice

Our community in Northern Ireland supports a wide variety of wildlife! Often species are threatened by the effects of human activity. This is especially true where organisms exist outside protected areas, such as nature reserves and conservation areas. One of the methods of protecting species is the implementation of laws. The Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 is the most recently updated law regarding wildlife protection. The PSNI are responsible for enforcing this law and penalties include fines and in some cases prison sentences. We provide a short summary of information that we think is most relevant. This information is just a guideline and if in doubt contact the Police Wildlife Liaison Office (www.psni.police.uk) or the Environment and Heritage Service (www.ehsni.gov.uk).

Bird and Eggs

• Different birds have different levels of protection and hence penalties for committing offences vary.
• Don't deliberately harm any wild bird.
• Don't keep any dead or alive wild birds unless you can prove you obtained it lawfully.
• Don't harm the nest of any wild bird whilst it is being used.
• Don't take eggs of wild birds.
• Don't disturb wild birds if they are nesting.
• Don't sell wild birds or their eggs.
• You can nurse injured birds back to health as long as you release them.
• Some bird species can be hunted outside the 'closed season'. They should not however be hunted at night or on a Sunday.
• Licences must be obtained before taking action on problem bird species.

Animals

• Different animal species have different levels of protection and hence penalties for committing offences vary.
• 17 species are given protection by law (for example: bats, otters, dolphins, whales, newts, lizards and butterflies).
• These species should not be harmed or kept dead or alive.
• Access to their home should not be hindered and they should not be disturbed whilst using these homes.
• The animal or anything taken from it should not be sold. This is extended to Common Frogs, Hedgehogs, Freshwater mussels, Sea Urchins and Foxes.
• Don't cause unnecessary suffering to any animal.
• Special laws protect bats. These cannot be removed from a house unless they occupy the actual living area. For example, if they are in the loft or a shed they cannot be disturbed. When carrying out building work advice should be taken if it would disturb any bats.
• Game animals (deer and hares) can be hunted using certain guns and ammunition outside the 'closed season'. They should not however be hunted at night or on a Sunday.

Plants

• Don't harm any wild plant.
• Some plants are specially protected. These should not be harmed or kept.

Releasing wildlife in the wild

• Don't release any animal that you wouldn't normally find in Northern Ireland.
• Don't release any organisms considered to be invasive species (for example: grey squirrels, black rats, Japanese knotweed or giant hogweed).

Travelling Abroad

• Other countries have different wildlife laws, which often might not seem intuitive. Check these out before you go travelling.
• Don't take endangered species into or out of another country. This covers not only obvious things (such as tiger skins) but things which might be sold as souvenirs in other countries (such as items made from ivory, some corals and sea-shells).
• Check regulations regarding species that cannot be taken into or removed from a country before travelling.