Wildlife law and trail cameras: what UK owners need to know

Step by step

1. 1

   Step 1: The basic rule: no disturbance, no licence

   Natural England's guidance says you don't need a licence to survey, film or photograph protected birds or animals if you don't disturb them. It specifically mentions using trail, remote or infra-red cameras, as long as they are put in place when the animals are away from their nests or resting places. You need a licence if you can't avoid disturbance or your activity changes their normal behaviour.

   Next: step 2
2. 2

   Step 2: Nesting birds and Schedule 1 species

   All wild birds, their eggs and nests in use are protected. Some species are listed on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb them while they are building a nest, are in, on or near a nest with eggs or young, or to disturb their dependent young. Natural England issues only a limited number of photography licences for nesting Schedule 1 birds each year. The RSPB notes, for example, that it is illegal for anyone unlicensed to disturb or photograph barn owls at the nest while they're breeding.

   Next: step 3
3. 3

   Step 3: Badgers and their setts

   The Protection of Badgers Act 1992 makes it an offence to damage, destroy or obstruct a sett, to send a dog into one, or to disturb a badger while it is occupying a sett, including by being reckless. Natural England lists interfering with an occupied sett as something that needs a licence. Set cameras in daylight, away from entrances, and don't trample over the sett.

   Next: step 4

4. 4

   Step 4: Bats, dormice, great crested newts and otters

   These are European protected species under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, alongside others such as wildcat, sand lizard, smooth snake and natterjack toad. It is an offence to deliberately disturb them, and to damage or destroy a breeding site or resting place. Natural England says using torches, lures or traps near a known bat roost needs a licence, so don't add lights or lures at a roost to get footage. Other animals on Schedule 5 of the 1981 Act are protected from disturbance while in a place they use for shelter.

   Next: step 5
5. 5

   Step 5: Things that always need a licence

   Natural England's examples include: interfering with an occupied badger sett, otter holt or water vole burrow; catching a protected animal; changing or blocking an animal's shelter; using torches, acoustic lures, mist nets or traps near a known bat roost; playing recorded calls repeatedly to lure animals to a filming site; and flying drones over them. If your plan involves any of these, apply first or change the plan.

   Next: step 6
6. 6

   Step 6: Scotland and Northern Ireland

   In Scotland, NatureScot licenses wildlife photography. It says most photography won't need a licence, but you will need one where the work would otherwise be an offence, such as disturbing a nesting Schedule 1 bird or an otter at its holt. In May 2026 NatureScot warned that putting a trail camera in some places near otters and badgers can be illegal. In Northern Ireland, the NIEA licenses photography of wild birds and certain protected animals including badgers (no fee); fines can reach £5,000 or prison.

   Next: step 7
7. 7

   Step 7: If you're not sure, ask

   Contact Natural England (wildlife@naturalengland.org.uk), NatureScot's licensing team or the NIEA Wildlife Inspectorate (028 9056 9557) before you set up. For badgers, your local badger group or Badger Trust can advise. Keep a note of what you did and when; it shows you took care.