Freedom of Information Request - Wildcat Haven
Date: 16 October 2025
Our ref: SIR181734/A5515283
Information Request – Wildcat Haven
Your Request & Our Response
The access to information legislation is only applicable to recorded information held by NatureScot at the time we received your request. From the request letter that you submitted we have only been able to provide you with a response where we may hold information we cannot respond to requests for our opinion or views.
• Has Wildcat Haven and or any of its “field officers” applied for a licence that is required to examine wildcat dens, use cameras near dens, or conduct research that might disturb wildcats?
Our Licensing Team have undertaken numerous searches of the of the information that they hold, and no licences have been issued to Wildcat Haven to “examine wildcat dens, use cameras near dens, or conduct research that might disturb wildcats”
• If no licence has been granted, what legal steps are you and Police Scotland doing about it? & Have you started any legal avenues to prevent Wildcat Haven in doing what they claim to be doing?
NatureScot have no powers of enforcement, if a wildlife crime is suspected to occur then it is for Police Scotland to investigate. NatureScot will provide information to the Police to aid in such investigations where we are requested to do so.
• Has Wildcat Haven complied with any point and section as listed in the above?
We cannot respond to this part of your request as Wildcat Haven would have to apply for a licence and their previous licence expired on the 1 October 2015.
• Did Wildcat Haven obtain a licence to release Finlay the cat, if not then how can Wildcat Haven state that it is a Scottish Wildcat? 9when that cat was deemed as a hybrid)
Wildcat Haven did not have a licence to release Finlay the cat.
• Did Police Scotland and or North Wales Police take any action against Wildcat Haven with the case of Finlay the cat?
Police Scotland and North Wales Police carried out an investigation into the unlawful possession of a Scottish Wildcat contrary to the Conservation Natural Habitat Regulations 1994 Regulation 39(3) at a premises run by Wildcat Haven in North Wales. Finlay the cat was seized and transported to Scotland under licence by Police Scotland, where the cat was assessed by an expert and determined to be a domestic cat. Finlay the cat (being the property of Wildcat Haven) was returned to their premises upon conclusion of the police investigation.
• Wildcat Haven is clearly in breach of law regarding both the Finlay issue and that of their continual disturbance of dens etc and have no licences given. Furthermore, with their use of “field workers” who are not qualified and have no legal licence to do what they are doing; What are you doing about it? Will you do something about it and or will you just ignore their unlawful behaviour.
This is requesting our views or opinion and is not appropriate for responding under the access to information legislation. NatureScot have no powers of enforcement, and any breaches of the law is a Police matter.
• When was the last licence held by Wildcat Haven?
The last licence held by Wildcat Haven was licence 49393 which expired on 1 October 2015
• Currently, at the moment and present time, who has licences with regards to Scottish Wildcats? - All licences, from trapping to taking drone images, from camera traps to holding cats within captivity, to transportation to holding, please supply all relevant licence holders.
There are currently five wildcat licences held by the following organisations (copies attached): -
257691 - Strathearn Ecology – Survey – disturb
280721 – Black Loch Environmental Consultants Ltd – Survey – disturb
283680 – Saving Wildcats – disturb, take and possess
285814 – Saving Wildcats – possess, release species out with native range and transport
297745 – Forestry and Land Scotland – FLS disturbance
We have redacted out personal data from the licences. To release personal data in responding to an information request would breach the Data Protection Act 2018. We have therefore applied, under the EIRs, the exemption 11(2) (Personal Data).
We have also redacted out some information relating to specific locations that work on wildcats may be undertaken. We do not think that it is in the public interest to release this information in response to a request for information as it could lead to the unnecessary disturbance of these species. We have applied, under the EIRs, the exemption 10(5)(g) (Protection of the Environment) to this information.
How We Handled Your Request
We believe you have asked for environmental information as defined in the Environmental Information (Scotland Regulations 2004 (‘the EIRs’), so we are dealing with your request under those regulations. To be able to use the EIRs, we must apply an exemption under section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (‘FOISA’). The Scottish Information Commissioner’s guidance recommends that public authorities apply this exemption to environmental information and handle request under the EIRs.
If you would like to find out more about the access to information legislation, there is a guidance booklet available on the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website.
Review and Appeal
I hope this information meets your requirements, but if you are dissatisfied with how we have responded to your information request, please write to us within 40 working days explaining your concerns. You can contact us at Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW or email us at [email protected]. We will carry out a review of our response and contact you with our findings within 20 working days.
If you are not satisfied following this, you can make an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner within 6 months. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Yours sincerely
FOI Officer,
NatureScot
