Taxidermy and protected species

[Gimlet]

Can anyone tell me if its legal to take a protected species to a taxidermist? First thing this morning I found a dead barn owl at the end of the track outside my house. There were no marks on it or broken wings and I assume it must either have been struck by a car or flown into a power line.

I'm afraid it was propably the same bird that hunted over the paddock behind my house and which I used to hear calling at night while I lay in bed. I shall miss having it around. I thought about putting it in the freezer when I found it and maybe taking it to a taxidermist rather than leaving it for the crows, but wasn't sure what the reaction would be.

I certainly didn't kill it but I can't prove that of course, so I decided against it. Wondered what the law is on this?

[Yorkhawk67]

Hi gimlet.

It really depends what u want to do with it. If u want to get a taxidermist to mount it for u to keep then u don't need any legal documents but u will need to keep a note of where u found it how it died along with dates etc. But if u ever want to sell it at a later date you will have to apply for an article 10 certificate from Defra. It's probably easier to apply straight away. The cost of an article 10 at the moment is £25.00.

if u want to sell it to a taxidermist to mount and sell himself you will have to apply to Defra for an article 10 which allows the bird carcass to be used for commercial gain ie to sell it.

Hope this helps.

[Gimlet]

Many thanks. That's exactly what I wanted to know. I sincerely hope I don't find another one but if I do I know how to deal with it.

Cheers.