We are working with partners to manage Scottish wildlife and to protect our natural resources for future generations.

Actions

We are:

Background

Wildlife inspires and enriches our lives, contributes to our wellbeing and underpins the ecosystems that we need to survive.

We meet our national and international obligations to conserve rare and vulnerable species by:

  • making sure they are protected and managed in a fair and humane way
  • addressing wildlife crime through co-ordinated enforcement
  • managing conflicts between mankind and wildlife where they arise
  • protecting wildlife from cruel or inappropriate management activities

We work closely with NatureScot (previously known as Scottish Natural Heritage), our lead advisory body on nature, wildlife management and landscape across Scotland.

Information on species licensing is available on the Nature Scot website. 

Bills and legislation

Wildlife legislation is complex and spread across several different Acts. Key pieces of legislation include:

The Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023 was passed on 24 January 2023 and became an Act on 7 March 2023. The 2023 Act maintains that it is an offence to hunt a wild mammal using a dog except in limited circumstances. Where hunting is allowed, the Bill introduces new limits on the number of dogs that can be used. NatureScot has since published guidance on licences that may be granted to allow the use of more dogs. More information on the passage of the Act through the Scottish Parliament is available on the Parliament website.

The Scottish Government released a report analysing responses to the Scottish Government’s consultation on hunting with dogs. The consultation ran from 29 October 2021 to 15 December 2023.

The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 21 March 2023. Information about the Bill can be found on the Parliament website. You can find the impact assessments undertaken prior to the introduction of the Bill below:

The Scottish Government released a report analysing responses to the Scottish Government’s consultation on Wildlife Management in Scotland. The consultation ran from 26 October 2022 to 14 December 2022.

Contact

Post:
Wildlife Management Team
Scottish Government
Area 3-H South
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ

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