Pine marten trap licence UK: country and equipment
Updated: October 2026
A pine marten trap licence in the UK is not replaced by a product title, a humane claim, or the fact that a cage is sold on amazon.co.uk. Pine martens are protected, and capturing one can require a licence, an authorised purpose and specified equipment. The rules and contacts differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so begin with where the property is located. The cages in the [marten live trap comparison](/hub/traps/marten-live-trap) are shop products, not evidence of approval for pine martens. The three rows in the table are the same shop set. None is Tomahawk 205 or 206NC. Confirm current conditions with the responsible body before acting. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
A pine marten trap licence in the UK is not replaced by a product title, a humane claim, or the fact that a cage is sold on amazon.co.uk.
A pine marten trap licence in the UK is not replaced by a product title, a humane claim, or the fact that a cage is sold on amazon.co.uk. Pine martens are protected, and capturing one can require a licence, an authorised purpose and specified equipment. The rules and contacts differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so begin with where the property is located. The cages in the marten live trap comparison are shop products, not evidence of approval for pine martens. The three rows in the table are the same shop set. None is Tomahawk 205 or 206NC. Confirm current conditions with the responsible body before acting. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Named AIHTS model | Marten named | Listed length | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  VOUNOT VOUNOT 80 cm cage, green | No | Yes | 80 cm | 9.0 | about £35.99 | View offer |
 SARSTRY SARSTRY 79 cm folding cage | No | No | 79 cm | 8.8 | about £44.99 | View offer | |
| Alternative |  Thealyn Thealyn double-door cage, 105 cm | No | No | 105 cm | 7.2 | about £57.99 | View offer |
On this page
Pine marten, not a general marten pest
The native UK species is the pine marten, Martes martes. A marketplace title that says marten does not make it a stone marten, and grouping it with rats, rabbits, cats or foxes does not create a pest-control permission.
In Great Britain, Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act protects the pine marten, and Schedule 6ZA lists it among animals that may not be killed or taken by trapping or snaring except on the relevant legal route. Northern Ireland has its own legislation. Capture, disturbance and interference with a shelter can all matter. If you are not sure of the species, use a photograph or an ecologist rather than a cage.
England and Wales: licence plus named equipment
In England, GOV.UK guidance says you need a Natural England licence to trap a pine marten and names Tomahawk live traps models 205 and 206NC. The A29 application is for survey, research or conservation. It should not be described as a general householder licence for removing an inconvenient animal from a roof space. None of the nine Amazon ASINs in this category is model 205 or 206NC. Similar dimensions, galvanised mesh or a marten label do not make another cage equivalent. The marten live trap buying guide explains why size comparisons cannot answer the legal question.
In Wales, GOV.WALES also names Tomahawk 205 and 206NC and directs applicants to Natural Resources Wales. NRW can be contacted on 0300 065 3000 or at specieslicence@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk. Confirm the purpose, licence and permitted trap before arranging any capture. Do not transfer an English application route to Wales merely because the named trap models match. The presence of a pine marten in a building does not by itself authorise trapping. If the problem is noise or access to a roof, use the pine marten in the loft guide rather than beginning with a cage.
Scotland: a dwelling-house rule is not capture permission
NatureScot distinguishes certain actions at a dwelling house from trapping. Its guidance says that, outside the sensitive breeding period, a householder may disturb a pine marten to discourage it and block access without a licence in a dwelling house. That is not permission to capture the animal, transport it or use any Amazon cage.
The seasonal restriction is critical. NatureScot says not to use the dwelling-house route from 1 March to 31 August unless an ecologist has confirmed that the animal is not breeding. Hearing animals from February to August inclusive may indicate a breeding den. Kits remain dependent and later become mobile, so sealing a mother out can separate her from young.
Garages, sheds and outbuildings are not automatically treated as dwelling houses, and commercial property, including short-term holiday accommodation, may require a licence. Contact NatureScot when the status of the building, season or animal is uncertain. Exclusion should only occur after the animal has left and after breeding risk has been addressed. Setting a cage inside the loft remains capture, even if you plan to release the animal nearby.
Northern Ireland and the check-interval myth
In Northern Ireland, pine martens are protected under the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 and associated schedules. DAERA and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency provide the relevant species and householder guidance. Their household advice warns against exclusion or deterrence from March to August because dependent young may be present. Contact NIEA if identification, breeding status or the proposed action is uncertain.
The Northern Ireland householder guide describes checking potential entry holes, including openings around 45 mm and above, rather than immediately sealing every gap. A temporary newspaper test can help show whether an opening is in use, but permanent work should wait until you know the animal has left and lawful seasonal conditions are met. This is an exclusion assessment, not a trapping technique.
Another common error is to claim that section 11(3) creates a universal twice-daily or daily check rule for every cage. Defra's wildlife-management guidance says there is no general Wildlife and Countryside Act requirement applying one interval to all live-capture cages, although licence conditions may impose a time. Separate government guidance for particular target species may advise at least daily checks, and wildlife projects may choose twice daily. In England and Wales, section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 can be relevant where an animal under control suffers unnecessarily. Checks for another lawful target are in the how to set a live cage guide.
Common questions
Are pine martens protected throughout the UK?
Yes, but the legal instruments, licensing routes and responsible bodies differ. Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, NatureScot, and DAERA or NIEA should be used for the relevant country. Do not assume that an exception or process described for one nation applies in another.
Can I use a cage bought on amazon.co.uk?
Not merely because it is sold or names martens. England and Wales guidance names Tomahawk models 205 and 206NC for licensed pine-marten trapping. None of the ASINs in this comparison is one of those models, and the licence purpose and conditions still have to be satisfied.
What is Natural England licence A29 for?
A29 is described for trapping badgers, beavers, otters or pine martens for survey, research or conservation. It is not a general permission for a householder to remove a pine marten because it is noisy or inconvenient. Confirm the correct route directly with Natural England.
Can I trap a pine marten in a Scottish house?
The dwelling-house guidance does not create a right to trap. It addresses limited disturbance and exclusion, with a breeding-season restriction from 1 March to 31 August unless an ecologist confirms the animal is not breeding. Capture remains a separate licensed issue.
Does the Scottish rule cover a garage or holiday let?
Do not assume so. NatureScot distinguishes dwelling houses from garages, sheds, outbuildings and commercial premises, including short-term lets. The property type can change whether a licence is required, so seek NatureScot advice before blocking access or disturbing the animal.
Does section 11 require every cage to be checked daily?
No universal interval should be attributed to section 11. Licence conditions and species-specific guidance may set or recommend checks, while welfare duties continue to apply once an animal is confined. Follow the exact legal and official guidance for the target, licence and country.
Who should I contact in Northern Ireland?
Use DAERA and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency guidance for pine martens. If the animal may be breeding, is trapped or is injured, contact the authority promptly rather than moving it. Their householder guidance is the appropriate starting point for a roof-space problem.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources for pine-marten protection, licensing and body size. Listings are the amazon.co.uk captures for these nine ASINs, not a live reload on 17 October 2026. Prices on amazon.co.uk move. None of these sources names any of the nine ASINs as an approved pine-marten trap.
- Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Schedule 5 (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, section 11 (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- GOV.UK, trapping badgers, beavers, otters and pine martens (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- NatureScot, pine marten protection (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- NatureScot, pine martens and licensing (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- Vincent Wildlife Trust, pine marten (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- Animal Welfare Act 2006, section 4 (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- Forestry England, pine martens (retrieved 17 October 2026)