Species management
We are sometimes required to manage species for a number of reasons, including:
- conflicts of interest involving native species: when the behaviour of a species brings it into conflict with people’s interest or with the conservation of other species or habitats; for example, where wild geese are present in high numbers they can cause serious damage to pasture or crops
- sustainable use of species: where a species in the wild is a resource of social or economic benefit; for example, management of deer prevents damage to habitats and provides venison, a source of healthy, low-fat meat
This page provides further information on our policies for managing the following species:
Geese
The wild goose population has been growing since the 1970s, and causing damage to crops in some areas. As a result, many farmers and crofters regard geese as agricultural pests.
In 2022 we completed a review of our goose management policy to help balance agricultural and conservation interests.
Local geese management schemes
Where geese are present on agricultural land, the initial responsibility for minimising damage to crops and grass rests with the farmer or crofter who should take appropriate steps by scaring and, where appropriate and legal, shooting geese.
Where this is impossible due to the number of geese or their protected status, a local goose management scheme may be considered as a way of minimising losses to farmers while ensuring that Scotland fulfils its conservation obligations.
Most schemes provide payments towards the maintenance of disturbance-free feeding areas, while encouraging geese scaring in other areas of land.
There are five local goose management schemes in Scotland which focus on migratory species and operate during winter and spring:
- Islay
- Kintyre
- Solway
- Strathbeg
- South Walls
These were developed by local goose management groups within the national policy framework, and are funded by NatureScot.
There are a further two schemes focused on resident populations of greylag geese, which operate during summer:
- Uists
- Tiree
- Coll
National Goose Forum
In May 2000 we set up the National Goose Forum (originally, the National Goose Management Review Group, NGMRG) to implement the national policy framework and advise Scottish Ministers on goose management in Scotland.
The forum also ensures that local goose management schemes implement the national policy framework at a local level. The forum evaluates proposals for new schemes and carries out annual assessments of existing schemes. Scottish Ministers decide whether to approve the establishment or continuation of individual local goose management schemes.
Goose scaring
We worked with Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) to create the managing geese on agricultural land information sheet, to explain what can be done to scare and manage different varieties of geese.
Find more information on geese management on the NatureScot website.
Gulls
We recognise that gulls can be a nuisance in urban environments and can be aggressive towards people and damage property, especially during the nesting season. We support gull management throughout Scotland through NatureScot and others whose role is to provide advice regarding gull management and, as the licensing authority, to license gull management.
The Birds Directive requires that all wild birds are protected. NatureScot (has responsibility for the issuing of General Licences under Section 16(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which authorise the killing and taking of certain wild birds for several reasons, including to preserve public health and safety, for the purpose of preventing the spread of disease, and prevent serious damage to farmers’ crops and livestock. Please see: General Licences for Birds - 2023-2024.
NatureScot held a consultation on General Licences between August and October 2019. Following this consultation, they removed several species, including gulls, from the 2020 General Licences either on the basis that there was insufficient evidence of the damage they caused, there are other alternative solutions, or there are conservation concerns over their population status. Although some species have been removed, authorised persons will still be able to apply to NatureScot for a specific licence to control them and this can be explored relative to any specific case / area of concern.
Although licensing can be helpful to deal with specific gull issues, it is not a long term solution to increasing gull populations in some urban areas. Businesses and members of the public also have a responsibility to play their part in reducing the impact of gulls in urban areas. They can ensure that refuse bags are securely stored to stop gulls from accessing the waste, and refrain from putting out food for birds where gulls are having an impact. Local authorities have introduced deterrents, such as the installation of gull-proof bins in problem areas near schools and town centres, and also placing signs to discourage people from feeding gulls. Further to this, netting can be installed on roofs to discourage gulls from nesting in urban areas.
Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture have also produced guidance on urban gull deterrents.
Foxes
Foxes have only limited protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, but are protected from abuse and ill treatment by the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996.
The culling of foxes is not prohibited, although the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023 introduced a ban on hunting foxes with dogs.
In an agricultural context, the Agriculture (Scotland) Act 1948 permits the control of foxes for the prevention of damage to crops, pasture, livestock, trees, hedges, banks, animal or human foodstuffs, or works on land.
In an urban context, owners or occupiers are responsible for dealing with urban fox issues on their own property. Most local authorities provide advice on how to deal with problems with foxes.
Deer
Deer management is regulated under the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996, as amended by the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011.
In 2017, we commissioned an independent report on Scotland’s systems of deer management. The report by the Deer Working Group was published in January 2020 and made 99 recommendations. We accepted 95 to ensure deer management was sustainable and in line with Scotland’s environmental ambitions.
We published our response to the independent Deer Working Group's report on 24 March 2021.
NatureScot and the Deer Management Strategic Board advise Scottish Ministers on deer management.
We consulted on proposals to modernise deer management legislation in 2024 after some minor changes to legislation on minimum ammunition weights and male deer close seasons. We published the consultation analysis in February 2025.
Read more on the NatureScot website.
Local deer management schemes
Scottish Ministers confirmed a control scheme under section 8 of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 on 4 April 2025. The scheme requires deer management to be carried out by the landowner, More Work Holdings, on Loch Choire Estate in East Sutherland.
Beavers
Beavers were previously hunted to extinction in the UK. Following a joint trial by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland at Knapdale, Scottish Ministers agreed that beavers could remain in Scotland. On 22 February 2019 the Scottish Government laid an SSI before the Scottish Parliament, to add beavers to Schedule 2 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, and c.) Regulations 1994; the Scottish Parliament approved the SSI and beavers received European Protected Species (EPS) status on 1 May 2019.
Beavers are native to Scotland and their establishment plays an important role to in restoring Scotland’s natural environment through their creation of wetland habitats that support a range of species including invertebrates, fish, amphibians, birds and mammals. Beaver dams can also play an important role in filtering sediment from watercourses and in mitigating flooding.
That is why we reintroduced beavers across Scotland and are committed to expanding the beaver range to maximise the environmental, social and economic benefits that beavers bring.
Whilst the Scottish Government recognises that beavers can have a positive impact on biodiversity by creating new wetland habitat for a range of important species, we are also aware that they can also cause problems for farmers by blocking drainage ditches and undermining flood defences. NatureScot have a range of mitigation measures in place and they are working with land managers on long term solutions to key issues such as increasing the resilience of river banks to flooding events.
National strategy for beavers in Scotland
Work to develop the development of Scotland’s Beaver Strategy 2022-2045, started in summer 2021 and was published in August 2022.
The strategy was developed through a collaborative process involving more than 50 stakeholders, and was facilitated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG).
The strategy will steer wider efforts to identify and actively expand the population to new catchments following the announcement in 2021 to encourage wider beaver restoration, whilst ensuring land managers are supported to live alongside beavers.
Beaver Management Report January 2023 to April 2024
NatureScot published their Beaver Management Report on 30 July 2024.