Killing squirrels - is it legal?

RetiredGreyFox · 18 Jun 2006 at 19:31

We've had a squirrel for several years and even though he's a nuisance we can put up with him. However, he's now got 3 mates and they're running rampage.
Am I OK to blast them with a borrowed Ratcatcher? I'd hate for a neighbour to see me and report me.

William · 18 Jun 2006 at 19:32

Yes I think the grey ones are counted as vermin.

Neoni · 18 Jun 2006 at 19:33

i dont think it is illegal, think there classed as nuicances.

benjo · 18 Jun 2006 at 19:33

What are they doing exactly?

Red and White · 18 Jun 2006 at 19:33

think you have to have a licence to kill them

William · 18 Jun 2006 at 19:34

benjo said:
What are they doing exactly?

Poking around putting their big disney style eyes into the garden just asking to be shot at.

Tomsk · 18 Jun 2006 at 19:34

benjo said:
What are they doing exactly?

Harassing his nuts.

fenderbass86 · 18 Jun 2006 at 19:38

lol, ooh that sounds painful.

benjo · 18 Jun 2006 at 19:38

Aww. Even if they are being annoying.. you cant kill 'em

Adam_151 · 18 Jun 2006 at 19:38

If its grey, I believe that its perfectly legal (but reds are to be left alone) actually if you trap a brown, you arn't allowed to release it (there has been a recent case of someone getting into trouble for releasing them away from his home), though I guess the RSPCA will be onto you if you don't kill it in a humane way...

EDIT: Sorry, Grey not brown, was thinking that the two types were brown and red :rolleyes:

instead of grey and red, brown appears to be the same as red :confused:

Roalith · 18 Jun 2006 at 19:40

Depends what you do it with, and where you do it I'd guess

phykell · 18 Jun 2006 at 19:40

It's not illegal unfortunately but I wouldn't go around using guns in a built-up area. What are they doing anyway, stealing cars, vandalism, what? What can a few squirrels actually *do* to deserve being killed? Just get a humane trap and release them somewhere. It's about time this country protected its wildlife against people who just want to kill them for no good reason.

Cueball · 18 Jun 2006 at 19:40

.22 rifle. No fuss, no nonsense.

Noxis · 18 Jun 2006 at 19:41

Nuke it from orb..... oh nm

Adam_151 · 18 Jun 2006 at 19:46

phykell said:
Just get a humane trap and release them somewhere.

Not allowed AFAIK

It's about time this country protected its wildlife against people who just want to kill them for no good reason.

Controling of nuisenses (both to us and to other species) is a good reason IMHO. Also would you have the same attitude if it was rats in question?

ballistic · 18 Jun 2006 at 19:48

throw him out in the street

R@tman · 18 Jun 2006 at 19:48

Phone your local council they will tell you

daven1986 · 18 Jun 2006 at 19:52

phykell said:
It's not illegal unfortunately but I wouldn't go around using guns in a built-up area. What are they doing anyway, stealing cars, vandalism, what? What can a few squirrels actually *do* to deserve being killed? Just get a humane trap and release them somewhere. It's about time this country protected its wildlife against people who just want to kill them for no good reason.

tis illegal, if you trap a grey squirrel you have to kill it, you cannot release it. see the news article about it.

tbh just ring your local council.

daven

Haircut · 18 Jun 2006 at 19:57

phykell said:
It's about time this country protected its wildlife against people who just want to kill them for no good reason.

Grey squirrels don't belong here anyway - the more of them killed the better

Shotgun_ned · 18 Jun 2006 at 19:58

phykell said:
It's not illegal unfortunately but I wouldn't go around using guns in a built-up area. What are they doing anyway, stealing cars, vandalism, what? What can a few squirrels actually *do* to deserve being killed? Just get a humane trap and release them somewhere. It's about time this country protected its wildlife against people who just want to kill them for no good reason.

Tell that to the native red squirrels which are being forced out due to the grey's.