Killing squirrels - is it legal?

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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.
 
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:
 
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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.
 
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?
 
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
 
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
 
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.
 
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