OWLS & THE LAW
Harmful interaction between humans and wild owls and the
disturbance of Barn Owls in the wild is thankfully well
protected by the law. Inspection or interference with a
nesting box is prohibited unless in possession of a current
Disturbance Licence. It is illegal to disturb wild Barn
Owls at or near their nest whilst they are breeding, or to
remove, damage or disturb the nest, the eggs or the young
of a nesting Barn Owl. However, it unlikely that anyone
making a single visit to return an owlet to its nest would
be prosecuted.
Although Barn Owls in the wild have fared badly and
population levels are low, in captivity they breed very
easily and owing to large population of legitimate captive
birds in the UK, the law does not require captive Barn Owls
to be registered.
To prevent wild adult Barn Owls being caught and sold, the
law requires that when offered for sale, it must be proved
that they have been captive bred and the owls must wear a
close ring - a continuous metal ring whose restricted size
enables it only to be slipped on to the leg of a nestling,
not an adult.
The sale of, or commercial use of, a Barn Owl for
exhibition or display also requires a DEFRA “Article 10”
certificate to accompany the bird. It is worth
remembering that any person with a Barn Owl in their
possession can be called upon at any time to prove their
possession is legal in a courtroom.
Paradoxically, the release of captive-bred Barn Owls into
the wild is illegal unless carried out under licence, but
such instances are strictly controlled by DEFRA and
applicants are required to comply with detailed guidelines
which evaluate the effectiveness of such release schemes as
a conservation measure.