Wildlife Crime ID Guide
What is wildlife crime?
Wildlife crime can take many forms, from people shooting at birds with air guns in the local
park to the more organised crimes of hare coursing and the trade in endangered species.
It includes offences like poaching, killing or disturbing protected species or damaging their
breeding and resting places. These extreme pressures can push animals and plant species
closer to extinction and cause animals’ unnecessary pain and suffering.
The responsibility for the enforcement of the laws protecting our wildlife rests with the police
service.
Type of wildlife crime:
Click any of the types below to find out more about that type of wildlife crime:
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Badger persecution (e.g. badger digging or baiting)
Bat persecution (e.g. bat roost disturbance/destruction)
Illegal trade in CITES species (e.g. live wild animals or their products and
parts such as illegal ivory, rhino horn, skins or traditional medicines)
Freshwater pearl mussels
Poaching/coursing (e.g. deer, fish and hare)
Raptor persecution
Theft or disturbance of wild birds, their eggs and/or nests
Theft or disturbance of wild animals, plants or habitat
Animal cruelty
Invasive species
Hunting with dogs
European Protected Species
How to report a wildlife crime?
Have you seen any suspicious activity or vehicles in your area?
Have you found any animals that may have been taken or killed in suspicious
circumstances?
Do you have information which would assist in bringing these offenders to justice?
If there is a wildlife crime taking progress call 999 or for a non-emergency call 101
If you want to give information regarding a crime anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800
555 111
If you suspect a crime has occurred:
 Do not disturb the scene by moving items or by walking about unnecessarily
 Do not touch dead animals or birds if you suspect they may be poisoned baits or
victims as most of the substances used are extremely dangerous and you may put
yourself at risk
 If possible, video or photograph the scene, or make a rough sketch
 Write down any vehicle registration numbers. Don't trust them to memory.
 Remember that some animals and birds can be legally shot or controlled. Do not
interfere with any set traps or snares or damage hides, high seats or shooting butts in
case there are there legally.
 Do not put yourself at risk: contact the police as soon as possible
If possible try to record as many details as you can about the event:
o Date
o Time
o Location (GPS grid reference is the most accurate)
o Weather Conditions
o Details about the suspect: gender, age, appearance, etc
o Details of any vehicles: model, colour, registration number plate, etc
o Details of the crime in a chronological order
Most forces in the UK have one or several Rural or Wildlife Crime Officers. Usually, these
are regular police officers who volunteer to investigate a wide range of complex wildlife
offences in addition to their main duties, where as in some forces these officers are
dedicated full-time to fighting wildlife crime. Find your local force here:
https://www.police.uk/forces/
Badger persecution
The badger is one of Britain's best-loved, but most persecuted animals despite being
protected under The Protection of Badgers Act (1992). Badger diggers use dogs and
digging equipment to take badgers from their setts. The captured badgers are then attacked
by dogs for sport, whilst the spectators gamble on the performance of the dogs, called
baiting. The badger is always killed, whether at the scene or after being taken away in
cages. Badger baiting was made illegal in 1835, but still very much happening today.
If you are aware of an active badger sett and have suspicions it have been disturbed
(recently moved earth, human/dog footprints, blood or fur around sett or objects blocking the
entrances to the setts) please report this to the police, or anonymously with Crimestoppers.
How to report a wildlife crime?
Bat persecution
Bats are in decline in Britain and Europe, with only 16 species are left in the UK, some very
rare. All bats, their breeding sites and resting places are specially protected by the
Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 and the Wildlife & Countryside Act
1981.
Sometimes bats roost in roof spaces of buildings such as private houses and it is unlawful to
attempt to move them or to block the access to their roost under Regulation 41 of the 2010
Act. This is an offence of strict liability, which means that there does not have to be
evidence of any intent or even recklessness – if the breeding site or resting place is
damaged or destroyed, the offence is complete. Natural England can provide advice on bat
mitigation licences if you need to disturb a bat roost.
If you are aware of the disturbance/destruction of a bat roost please report this to the police,
or anonymously with Crimestoppers. How to report a wildlife crime?
Illegal trade in CITES species
The illegal wildlife trade is the 4th most profitable illicit trade in the world and with such high
rewards, it is often linked to serious organised crime. CITES (the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international
treaty drawn up in 1973 to protect wildlife against over-exploitation, and to prevent
international trade from threatening species. The Control of Trade in Endangered Species
(Enforcement) Regulations 1997 (COTES) puts restrictions and control on the trade of
certain species of animals and plants and their derivatives. Species protected under this Act
can only be sold legally if the seller is in possession of a licence issued by the Animal Health
Agency.
Most commonly traded items are elephant ivory, rhino horn, tiger parts and live animals such
as primates and reptiles. But it's not just trade in exotic species from abroad; sometimes
wildlife from the UK is in demand abroad, such as wild-taken birds can sold overseas for
thousands of pounds or plants that are dug up from the wild, sometimes on a very large
scale, can be sold illegally at garden centres and markets.
If you see any CITES protected plant or animal species, live or in parts, for sale either online
or in person, without proof of a licence then please report this to the police, or anonymously
with Crimestoppers. How to report a wildlife crime?
Freshwater pearl mussels
Freshwater Pearl Mussels are an endangered species found only in rivers in Scotland and
parts of England. The penalties for killing, taking or injuring these mussels can be severe. It
is also an offence to intentionally or recklessly damage or destroy a place which mussels
use for shelter or protection.
Damaging or unauthorised river engineering, mini hydro-electric schemes or fishing
proprietors can all result in alterations to the river bed or bank that can lead to large scale
killing or injuring of these creatures. This also includes water pollution through a variety of
means.
If you suspect pollution or the disturbance or harvesting of Fresh Water Pearl Mussels has
taken place, then please report this to the police, or anonymously with Crimestoppers. How
to report a wildlife crime?
Poaching/coursing
Poachers often pursue animals such as rabbits and species that fall under the heading of
'Game' and deer. Fishing without a license in private fisheries or rivers is a poaching
offence. Offenders take fish from these private waters to eat or, more commonly, to sell on
for profit. It is illegal to sell game without a license, but it is rare that animals are poached
merely for food and it is more often the case that animals such as badgers are taken to kill
for sport. Hare coursing is one of the most common examples of illegal poaching, where
hares are flushed out with hounds and brutally killed in front of spectators, whom are often
betting on the dog’s performance.
Deer, hare or badger poachers often use 4x4 vehicles, a number of dogs and firearms when
poaching and people should consider their own safety if they suspect a group or individual of
committing this offence. Signs to look out for are a group of vehicles parked in a rural area
(by a gateway to farmland, on a grass verge, on a farm track) which may show evidence of
dogs inside (muddy paw prints and dog hair for example.) Suspicious looking road kill or the
discovery of bait, traps and snares can also indicate poaching. The criminal use of firearms
in poaching and illegal hunting is also dealt with by the Firearms Act 1968.
If you if you suspect poaching activity or have ever been offered cheap meat or fish by
someone that may be a poacher, please report this to the police, or anonymously with
Crimestoppers. How to report a wildlife crime?
Raptor persecution
Some landowners and game keepers can view certain species of wildlife to be pests as the
wildlife interferes with the crops, farm animals and the breeding of game. As a result birds of
prey have been targeted and killed illegally with traps, poison or shot.
Under section 1 and 5(1)(a) of Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 it an offence for any person
to 'Intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird. All spring traps must be approved under
the Spring Traps Approval Order 1995 and it is illegal to set spring traps in the open or on
top of a post, or possess/use a gin trap for an unlawful purpose. However, not all traps are
illegal, and can be used to target pest species; these include Mammal Cage Traps, Larsen
Traps and snares. When these traps are not in use, they must be rendered incapable of
catching or holding animals and failing to check a trap regularly could be an offence under
the Animal Welfare Act 2006 or the Abandonment of Animals Act 1960.
Interference with legally set traps or snares is an offence, so do not touch them. If you are
absolutely certain that an offence is being committed, photograph the trap or snare and
spring it so that it cannot catch anything, or if you are suspicious, but unsure, photograph it
and please report this to the police, or anonymously with Crimestoppers. How to report a
wildlife crime?
Poisoning can be recognised by an apparent victim lying next to potential bait with signs of
discolouration or the presence of granular material. The bait is often laced with pellets,
powder or liquid and left out in the open for the purpose of attracting a particular species in
order to kill that species. The presence of dead flies or other insects on, under or close to a
suspected bait may indicate that an insecticide is involved.
It may not be obvious the animal has been poisoned, but do not touch the bird, as even low
doses of a pesticide can be fatal in humans. If you suspect a raptor has been poisoning
please report this to the police, or anonymously with Crimestoppers. How to report a
wildlife crime?
Theft or disturbance of wild birds, their eggs and/or nests
All British birds, their nests and eggs are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act
1981, although there are a number of 'pest species' that can be controlled under certain
conditions by authorised people such a crows or pigeons.
It is illegal to disturb birds during nesting season, typically in late winter and early spring.
Nest disruption can be simply walking or working in a known nesting area; heather burning,
repeated use of machinery such as quad bikes and use of forestry equipment. Offenders
also target the nests after they have been made, pulling them out of trees and smashing
eggs. All of these are criminal offences. It is also illegal to take wild eggs from a nest, either
for sale or as part of private collections
If you suspect nest disturbance or theft of a wild bird or their eggs please report this to the
police, or anonymously with Crimestoppers. How to report a wildlife crime?
Theft or disturbance of wild animals, plants or habitat
Wildlife and natural habitat must be considered when carrying any type of work on land, so
ponds cannot simply be filled in as they may contain a protected species like the great
crested newt. It is an offence to kill or injure any wild animal listed in Schedule 5 of the
Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, such as Red Squirrels, Bats, Water Voles, Sand Lizards
and Natterjack Toads. It is also an offence intentionally or recklessly to damage or obstruct
any place used for their shelter or protection. Also under the Act, it is an offence to
intentionally uproot any wild plant without the permission of the land owner and sell on those
plants. Fly tipping is also illegal and can have drastic effects on not only the habitat but the
animals that live within it.
If you suspect habitat disturbance or have information on and incident then please report this
to the police, or anonymously with Crimestoppers. How to report a wildlife crime?
Animal cruelty
All British wild mammals are protected from deliberate acts of cruelty under The Wild
Mammals (Protection) Act 1996. This means that it is an offence to: mutilate, kick, beat, nail
or otherwise impale, stab, burn, stone, crush, drown, drag or asphyxiate any wild mammal
with intent to cause unnecessary suffering. Any wild animal that is under the control of man
means that the Animal Welfare Act could apply as well. Police will often liaise with the
RSPCA and RSPB, to aid prosecution of animal and bird offences.
If you see an animal in immediate distress please contact the RSPCA, and if you have any
information on a case of wild animal cruelty please report this to the police, or anonymously
with Crimestoppers. How to report a wildlife crime?
Pest and predator control is a common cause of animal suffering and can effect animals that
were not originally targeted. Lethal control is only permitted under a general licence and it is
advisable to check with DEFRA for advice on dealing with 'pest' species.
If you suspect the illegal use of pest control measures then please report this to the police,
or anonymously with Crimestoppers. How to report a wildlife crime?
Invasive species
An invasive non-native species (INNS) is any non-native species that causes, or is thought
may cause, serious negative impact on our native species, our health or our economy. It is
illegal to dump unwanted invasive non-native species plants and animals into the
environment under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Some invasive species can be
very damaging to our health such as Giant Hogweed or venomous exotic reptiles. Dumping
can also be very harmful to unwanted pets who rely on humans to live and simply cannot
survive in our climate.
If you suspect illegal dumping of an invasive species (plant or animal) please report this to
the police, or anonymously with Crimestoppers. How to report a wildlife crime?
Hunting with dogs
Certain forms of hunting of wild mammals with dogs is illegal as a result of Hunting Act,
2004. It is now against the law to hunt for a wild mammal with a dog, unless the hunting is
exempt. The hunting of rats and rabbits is now also illegal unless carried out by the
landowner or with his written permission. There are various activities that may appear to be
hunting, which are in fact not breaching the Hunting Act 2004, including trail hunting, hound
exercising and flushing to guns.
If you suspect that illegal hunting with dogs is happening please report it to the police, or
anonymously with Crimestoppers. How to report a wildlife crime?
European Protected Species
Many species of plants and animals (other than birds) are protected by law throughout the
European Union. They are listed under Annexes II and IV of the European Habitats
Directive. States within the EU are required to protect the listed species, and also designate
Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) to protect the populations. It an offence deliberately
to kill, capture, or disturb a European Protected Species, or to damage or destroy the
breeding site or resting place of such an animal.
If you suspect that any European Protected Species or its habitat has been harmed or
disturbed, please report it to the police, or anonymously with Crimestoppers. How to report
a wildlife crime?