There are things you can do to control pests (insects or animals causing harm or nuisance) on your property, but there are a number of legal duties you must fulfil in doing so, as government guidance indicates.

You can start by:

• Contacting your local council to find out if they provide pest control services - you may be charged a fee; and/or
• Hiring a pest controller.

You can be fined or imprisoned if you cause unnecessary harm to any animal.

Controlling pests yourself

You can:

• only trap or kill permitted animals;
• only use permitted methods to kill animals;
• only use poison to kill the pests it’s intended for - this will be written on the packaging; and
• only use traps that have been approved for use with the species you want to control - you must follow the instructions for use.

You cannot use the following control methods for any wildlife:

• Self-locking snares;
• Bows and crossbows;
• Explosives (other than legal ammunition for a licensed firearm); and/or
• Live birds or animals, known as ‘live decoys’, to attract pests (unless you have a licence).

It’s an offence to keep or release some wild animals, for example grey squirrels - you must kill them humanely if you catch them alive.

Get advice
Get professional advice if you do not know:

• which animals you’re permitted to trap or kill; and/or
• how to use control methods (such as traps and poisons) correctly.

The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) also lists what you can use to control specific pests.

Protecting habitats
It may be an offence to disturb, damage, destroy or prevent access to any place a species uses for shelter or protection, or breeding. It’s an offence to disturb or destroy bats, or any place they’re living (roosting), even if it’s inside your home.

Protecting other wildlife from harm
You must protect other animals from traps or poison you put down for pests by:

• placing lethal traps under cover or so that other animals and birds are not caught; and
• preventing wildlife from eating poison you’ve put down.

Apply to catch or kill protected wildlife
You need a wildlife licence if you want to kill or catch some species in ways that would usually be illegal. You can sometimes get a licence to get rid of a protected species living inside your home.

For more information click here.