Wildlife Offences

Table of Contents

Marking

It is an offence other than in pursuance of a licence to mark by cutting branding, tattooing or attach any band microchip tag or other marking device to any wild animal or wild bird or to trap a bird for the purpose of so doing.

These provisions do not to the

the close ringing of artificially reared wild birds,
captive bred birds prescribed in an open seasons order,
captive bred waterfowl collections, or
the clipping of the feathers of an artificially reared protected wild bird for purposes of confinement prior to the release into the wild of such protected wild bird.

It is an offence for a person to import into the State from outside the European Union or have in his possession a cannon-net, mist-net, rocket-net or similar appliance for taking or trapping unless he is the holder of a licence granted by the Minister.

Certain Weapons

It is an offence for a person to hunt or injure in the course of hunting any wild bird with a repeating or automatic shotgun (other than one with less than four shotgun cartridges) with an airgun, air rifle, gas rifle, pistol, revolver or any firearm fitted with a silencer device. It is an offence for a person to kill or injure any protected wild bird in the course of hunting with a rifle.

It is an offence for a person to hunt or injure any wild bird or wild animal with a spring gun, with a tracer shot or with any explosive other than ammunition for and used with a firearm.

It is an offence for a person to hunt or injure in the course of hunting with a shotgun a protected wild animal other than a hare otherwise than under and in accordance with a licence granted in that behalf by the Minister.

The Minister may make regulations specifying the type and calibre of firearms and ammunition which may be used to hunt wild birds and wild animals and providing that firearms and ammunition of any other type and calibre shall not be used to hunt such birds or animals.

A rifle” includes both a gas rifle and an air rifle.

Certain Equipment & Aids

A person shall not hunt any wild bird, wild mammal or protected wild animal by means of a trap, snare, net, line, hook, arrow, dart, spear or similar device, however, propelled, instrument or missile, or birdlime or any substance of a like nature, or any poisonous, poisoned or stupefying bait, any gas or smoke or chemical wetting agent or any electrical device which is calculated or likely to cause death, unconsciousness or bodily injury to such bird, mammal or animal, or

A person shall not affix, place or set —

any trap, snare or net for killing or taking a wild bird, wild mammal or protected wild animal, or
any line, hook, electrical device or other device or instrument calculated or likely to cause death or bodily injury to any wild bird, wild mammal or protected wild animal coming in contact with it,

on any tree, pole, cairn or other structure in, or in the vicinity of, any place frequented by wild birds, wild mammals or protected wild animals.

Baits Traps & Poison

A person shall not lay any poisonous or poisoned substance or stupefying bait, or any gas or smoke or chemical wetting agent, being a substance, bait or agent which is calculated or is likely to cause injury or facilitate the capture of, a wild bird, wild mammal or protected wild animal, in or in the vicinity of, any place mentioned, or on any tree, pole, cairn or other structure in or in the vicinity of such place.

The above provisions do not apply to traps and snares approved under regulations or taking or killing by means of such traps, snare, or net a wild bird who is not a protected wild bird or wild animal which is not a protected wild animal.

The prohibition does not apply to the following if done pursuant to a licence granted by the Minister

capture alive, on land specified in the licence by means of a trap, snare or net of any species of wild bird F92 or wild animal specified in the licence, for the purpose of propagating or of improving the quality of such species,
capture alive by means of nets of hares by or on behalf, or at the request, of a coursing club affiliated to the Irish Coursing Club,
capture alive by means of nets or other devices of hawks or falcons for the purpose of lawful falconry within the State,
capture or killing of any wild bird or any wild animal in or on, or the removal of any such bird or animal from any premises or other land by means of any poisoned, poisonous or stupefying substance specified in the licence or any gas or smoke or chemical wetting agent or other devices so specified, for the purpose of stopping or preventing serious damage being caused

The capture of, or the taking of dead, wild birds or wild animals for research or other scientific or educational purposes or for removal of live wild birds or wild animals to a new habitat or to a place specified in the licence.

The Minister may make regulations in relation to trap snare in nets, which may be approved or permitted subject to conditions.

Any person who imports into the State from outside the European Union or has in his possession other than pursuant to and in accordance with a licence granted by the Minister in that behalf, or who in the course of his trade or business sells or offers for sale a trap, snare or net which is for the time being declared by the Minister to be a trap, snare or net to which this subsection applies shall be guilty of an offence.

Live Perching Bird

It is an offence for a person to sell, purchase, or have a liev perching bird other than a close-ringed specimen bred in captivity other than under and in accordance with a licence granted. A close ringed specimen is a specimen of a live perching bird fitted with a continuous metal band ring which has been slipped over its foot and onto its leg not later than 10 days after it has been hatched.

Hunting Methods

A person shall not

use, for the purpose of hunting, repelling or scaring any wild bird or any wild animal any live wild bird or live wild animal which is tethered or secured by braces or other similar appliances or which is confined in a cage or pen or which is blind, maimed or injured, or any kite, light trap, balloon, aircraft (including model aircraft) or similar device,
use, as a decoy for the purpose of hunting any wild bird or any wild animal, any live wild animal or live bird, or,
use a stuffed or artificial decoy in the form of any bird for the purpose of hunting any protected wild birds other than wood pigeons, wild ducks and wild geese, or
use an electrical or other instrument or appliance (including recording apparatus) emitting sound,

for the purpose of hunting any wild bird or any wild animal.

The above does not apply to the use of a whistle, similar instrument or appliance imitating or emitting a call similar to the calls of clover wild duck or wild geese operated manually or orally for the purpose of hunting those wild birds.

The Minister may by order prohibit throughout the State or in any area

use for hunting, repelling or scaring any wild bird or any wild animal of a species specified in the order of any stuffed or artificial decoy or any device, whistle, instrument or appliance which is of a particular type, class or description specified in the order, or,
the use of any orally or manually operated whistle or other instrument or appliance (not being recording apparatus) which imitates or emits calls similar to the calls of plover, wild duck or wild geese or emits recorded such calls.
decoy, vehicle or an instrument or appliance, including electrical or other recording apparatus emitting sound for the purpose of repelling, scaring or capturing any wild bird or any wild animal, may be used, pursuant to and in accordance with a licence granted in that behalf by the Minister, for scientific research or for another purpose approved of by the Minister.

Falconry carried out in accordance with a licence for the taking or killing a useful wild animal it is not protected animal for the purpose of fishing is not prohibited under the provision.

A person may be licensed to use as a decoy live wild animals of species specified which is confined to a cage or pen. Conditions apply, including those relating to the welfare of the animal concerned.

A person may not hunt or disturb for the purpose of hunting any wild animals by a mechanically propelled vehicle vessel or aircraft whether it is being propelled or stationary. Aa person shall not hunt or disturb for the purpose of hunting any wild bird by means of a vehicle vessel or aircraft while it is being so propelled. A licence may be granted for such educational and scientific purposes as may be specified therein for the capture of wild birds or wild animals involving use of such vehicles.

Hunting at Night

A person shall not hunt any woodcock between sunset and sunrise. A person shall not hunt any other protected (wild bird other than a wild duck or wild goose) or any protected wild animal during any period beginning one hour after sunset and ending one hour before sunset.

Licences may be granted which modify the position.

Any person who uses —

any lamp, light, torch, mirror or other artificial light-reflecting or dazzling device or appliance, or
any device for illuminating, image intensifying or heat-seeking a target, or
any sighting device for night shooting, or
any device or appliance which is of a type, class or description specified in an order made

in hunting any protected wild bird or protected wild animal is guilty of an offence.

This does not apply to —

attaching thereto any band, ring, tag or other marking device, or
hunting for educational or scientific purposes or for any other purpose,

pursuant to and in accordance with a licence granted under this Act by the Minister shall be guilty of an offence.

The Minister may by order declare a device or appliance which is of a type, class or description specified in the order to be a device or appliance to which the provision applies.

Burning Vegetation I

A person shall burn any vegetation growing within a mile of a wood

which is not the property of that person or
lands designated under the Wildlife Act as a nature reserve reserved for fauna or recognised nature refuge.

Unless between seven and thirty-five days before burning such vegetation, it gives notice of his intention to the Garda Siochana in the district, the occupier of the wood, the Minister or the person managing the same. Where such notice is served a counter notice may be served within three days objecting to the proposed burning on the ground that it is liable to cause damage to the wood or land concern.

A person may not light a fire or do any other act which causes or is likely to cause the burning of vegetation which is growing within a mile of a wood which is not the person’s property, which is a nature reserve, et cetera. Doing so in contravention of the legislation is an offence.

Where a person—

burns any vegetation either in contravention or after giving the notice required
lights a fire or does any other act in contravention,

any injury occasioned by such burning or lighting is deemed to have been caused by the negligent act of that person, and damages to the extent of that injury shall be recoverable accordingly in any court of competent jurisdiction from that person by the owner of such wood or land, as the case may be.

Burning Vegetation II

It is an offence to cut grub, burn, or otherwise destroy during the period between 1st March and 31st August in any year any vegetation growing on land not then cultivated. It is an offence for a person to cut grub burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing in any hedge and ditch during the above period.

The above provisions do not apply to

the destroying, in the ordinary course of agriculture or forestry, of any vegetation growing on or in any hedge or ditch;
the cutting or grubbing of isolated bushes or clumps of gorse, furze or whin or the mowing of isolated growths of fern in the ordinary course of agriculture;
the cutting, grubbing or destroying of vegetation in the course of any works being duly carried out for reasons of public health or safety by a Minister of the Government or a body established or regulated by or under a statute;
the clearance of vegetation in the course of fisheries development works carried out by the Inland Fisheries Ireland or a regional fisheries board in the exercise of its functions under the Inland Fisheries Acts 1959 to 2010 ;
the destroying of any noxious weed to which the Noxious Weeds Act, 1936, applies;
the clearance of vegetation in the course of road or other construction works or in the development or preparation of sites on which any building or other structure is intended to be provided;
the removal or destruction of vegetation required by a notice served by the Minister to be removed or destroyed;
the felling, cutting, lopping, trimming or removal of a tree, shrub, hedge or other vegetation pursuant to section 70 of the Roads Act 1993 ;