Can anyone tell me what, if any, the laws surrounding the trapping and killing of grey squirrels are around here?

Suffice to say that I'm not offing the little critters myself but have contact with someone who is and aside from being disturbed by the idea, I want to know if they're breaking the law or not by doing this.

ONLY THE GREY ONES,
never the reds as we are trying to reintroduce them at the mo,but cant tell ya where,
id get someone who knows what they are doing to shoot them,not "somebody with an airgun",
also pass it by the council first see how they might help,
JJ..

Originally posted by SV500
id get someone who knows what they are doing to shoot them,not "somebody with an airgun"
Uncanny...you suggest the exact opposite of what the person in question has done.:(

Grey squirrels are vermin, they eat baby birds and eggs. They are often culled in conservation areas because they kill trees by gnawing through the bark and making them susceptible to infection and fungus. They lowered the native population of red squirrels by out-competing them for food and space because they are larger and stronger.

I'm a sucker for cute furry animals but not for these ones. Most are no longer afraid of people and will sometimes bite even when unprovoked. It's perfectly legal to kill them. The only law surrounding Grey Squirrels is this: Grey squirrels are listed on schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This makes it an offence to release, or allow escape, into the wild any grey squirrel. It is also an offence, by an Order under the Destructive Imported Animals Act 1932, to keep or import grey squirrels except under licence.

So if squirrels are caught in a live trap they must be killed and not released. However, they must be killed humanely.

Originally posted by Twiglet
It's perfectly legal to kill them. The only law surrounding Grey Squirrels is this:

So if squirrels are caught in a live trap they must be killed and not released. However, they must be killed humanely.

Oh no, here we go again, just like with the magpies....

While we're at it, what's the law regarding hedgehogs because they tend to come into my house when we leave the back door open.

squirrels are apparently a bugger to kill with an air gun, better off with a trap of some sort.

Maybe they are vermin and maybe it is legal - but I still think its sick to shot them. My Dad like to shot them. He thinks its funny to stand at his back door and look out at the woods and choose 'which furry ass to pop next?' 'Vermin!' he spits. I think its sick. I play hell with him, but doesn't stop him, he just does it when I'm not there, then tells me about his so called glory. He once even threatend to stuff them all and stick them between the spokes in the banister rail going up the stairs.

Hmmmmm................I think he needs help :help:

WM

There are some here (http://www.maycontainnutz.com/squirrelpower.php) that could use some serious extermination!!:D

It's perfectly legal to trap them, but you have then to kill them humanely within a few hours of capture. - ISTR the RSPCA have some guidlines on this. In my garden I catch them in a live cage trap and take them down to a local farmer, who shoots them in the head at close range.

Grey sqirrels are now a major concern to the nature conservancy groups. They have caused so much tree damage in the New Forest that there is now a project under way to eradicate them completely because the woodland is unable to regenerate.

I'd say squirrels are a much greater threat to songbirds than Magpies, unfortunately they are 'cute little critters' and most people enjoy watching their antics in suburban gardens and parks, so they enjoy quite a lot of sentimentalist protection.

Originally posted by alchresearch
While we're at it, what's the law regarding hedgehogs because they tend to come into my house when we leave the back door open.

Just checked and subsection 5, paragraph 10, of the 1908 Prickly Creature act says 'close your door stoopid !' :P

Seriously though, if they are coming indoors during day they may be unwell according to this :

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2942851.stm

Shooting them might seem a bit sick and there may be the time when non-lethal shots hit the squirrel, but its more humane than poison (which is actually Warfarin which prevents blood clotting, so the squirrels eat it, knock themselves somewhere and then slowly bleed to death). With poison there is also the risk of other non target animals being killed. Pest control officers will use airguns to kill rats, and I don't think they're trained marksmen either!

anyone know where to buy a squirrel trap?

Originally posted by silverfish
anyone know where to buy a squirrel trap?

Try here http://www.trap-man.com/squirrel-traps.htm ;)

We have two greys in the trees at the bottom of the garden. I had no Idea that they steal eggs and chicks.. this would explain why the magpies were going crackers the otherday.I cant work out whos nest it is in the tree. I thought the magpies were trying to get the squirrils young from the nest, but maybe it was the other way round.

i'm sure they are vermin.
but they're cute.got a couple near my stbales that are a pleasure to watch.

Originally posted by honeyplanet
We have two greys in the trees at the bottom of the garden. I had no Idea that they steal eggs and chicks.. this would explain why the magpies were going crackers the otherday.

Me neither. I always thought squirrels were herbivores :o

Originally posted by Abdul
Me neither. I always thought squirrels were herbivores :o
Well yes I did too Abdul, I have been bitten by an injured grey before I still have the scars (they have lockjawyou know)
I leave monkey nuts out for the two in the trees and they sit and eat them on the wall.. Maybe I should leave them a couple of eggs instead :shocked:

they are herbivores however they do apparently raid the odd nest for eggs. not sure if thats all of them or the ones that have learnt to do it thru neccessity.

Originally posted by willman
they are herbivores however they do apparently raid the odd nest for eggs. not sure if thats all of them or the ones that have learnt to do it thru neccessity.

If it only the eggs they go for and not the chicks, that would makes sense, I suppose. They're vegetarian, not vegan :suspect:

Catch them then set them free in the in the botanical gardens.

I only ever seen them hear and it such fun to watch them run arround wile you have your picknick and throw nuts to them so they dont nick your food :hihi:

But no i think they are vermin but are sweet to look at,Better lookin then some other vermin we have hear.

I like taking the kids to the Botanicals to feed the squirells.

My daughter thinks its great when they take the nuts out of her hands.

The problem with grey squirrels is not that they're vermin (that's a matter of opinion) but that they're an introduced species - ie not indigenous to Britain.

As such they have become so successful that they have driven the indigenous Red Squirrel to the brink of extinction. They also do a lot of damage to trees etc, which is the main reason people hate them.

To those animal lovers feeling sorry for the grey squirrels, think on this. In Australia, camels, donkeys and horses which were used for transportation in the outback a century ago, escaped into the wild and have bred to incredible proportions.

I forget the exact figures but something like TEN THOUSAND wild horses and camels are shot every year to keep them from breaking fences and/or eating crops. Personally I find it disgusting that this slaughter happens, but not many Australians seem to give a toss. "We must protect the farmers' livelihood", is the stock reply whenever the carnage is mentioned.

Hate the little sods, more so since I caught one devouring the young from a nest of Great tits in my garden. I have managed to despatch a couple with a spade.

Reply from RSPB:

Hello *******

Grey squirrels do take birds eggs and fledglings. They are just one of a wide variety of animals that will raid nests. This is probably not a major part of their diet but over the birds breeding season squirrels will inevitably come across nests and take advantage of an easy meal. Of course there are birds that will eat squirrels and their young. Not only birds of prey but corvids could take young squirrels.

Regards

Richard James
Wildlife Advisor
RSPB UK HQ
The Lodge, Sandy, Beds, England
SG19 2DL
01767 680551
www.rspb.org.uk

Well I never knew that... I am really suprised by it to be honest, I allways thought they had a diet of nuts and berrys.. they dont picture so cute chewing on a chick do they??

Originally posted by honeyplanet
Well I never knew that... I am really suprised by it to be honest, I allways thought they had a diet of nuts and berrys.. they dont picture so cute chewing on a chick do they??

Grey squirrels also eat the bark on young deciduous trees in great quantities. Not a problem perhaps in the Botanical Gardens where people feed them, - or in suburban areas where they have plenty of alternative food sources, but in rural areas tree bark is often their only source of food in the winter and they are relentlessly destroying our woodlands.

I noticed on that link supplied by owdlad that great stress is laid on the humane aspect of the squirrel trap, but there is no suggestion for humanely disposing of your trapped squirrel. Anyone thinking of trapping squirrels should carefully consider this.

Originally posted by Greybeard
I noticed on that link supplied by owdlad that great stress is laid on the humane aspect of the squirrel trap, but there is no suggestion for humanely disposing of your trapped squirrel. Anyone thinking of trapping squirrels should carefully consider this.

Hmm... I wonder what grey squirrel tastes like?

One ran under the wheels of my car this morning and was crushed.

Just, out of interest.

Originally posted by Abdul
Hmm... I wonder what grey squirrel tastes like?

A bit 'gamey' I would think, it's on the menu of some of the up-market London restaurants but will likely cost you £50 to try it ;)

Originally posted by Greybeard
A bit 'gamey' I would think, it's on the menu of some of the up-market London restaurants but will likely cost you £50 to try it ;)

Then I'll charge £49, if anybody's interested.

Originally posted by Abdul
Hmm... I wonder what grey squirrel tastes like?

Not sure of the colour of the squirrels used, but Elvis Presley and many others ate squirrel in the states sometime ago [think it was the great depression that kept everyone poor there]

A recipe involving the little critters can be found here. If it's good enough for the King then it's good enough for us :thumbsup:

http://hemsidor.torget.se/users/e/eilert/food.htm

they will have been greys as they are american and afaik reds have never been introduced into the states

dave

Originally posted by alchemist
they will have been greys as they are american and afaik reds have never been introduced into the states

dave

According to a quick google, there are 28 different types of tree squirrel! Including an American Red, a 'Tufted-Ear' and various other 'exotic' varieties. In the US they also have rather porky looking ground squirrels which i can imagine would make a better meal.

well, you live n learn :)

dave

why not just leave them alone.... :loopy:

Originally posted by Grim
squirrels are apparently a bugger to kill with an air gun, better off with a trap of some sort.

So if you catch one how do you dispose of it??? As i have 2 i would really like to get rid of.

Had htought of trapping them and taking them to school for release in the woods with others, but i wouldn't want to inflict them on others.

why not just leave them alone.... :loopy:
as mentioned in post #4 old bean

Grey squirrels are vermin, they eat baby birds and eggs. They are often culled in conservation areas because they kill trees by gnawing through the bark and making them susceptible to infection and fungus. They lowered the native population of red squirrels by out-competing them for food and space because they are larger and stronger.

I'm a sucker for cute furry animals but not for these ones. Most are no longer afraid of people and will sometimes bite even when unprovoked. It's perfectly legal to kill them. The only law surrounding Grey Squirrels is this:

So if squirrels are caught in a live trap they must be killed and not released. However, they must be killed humanely.


AKA tree rats :gag:

It is quite amazing reading this and other threads, the delight that some people get from killing things. One person even said he trapped the animal s and then took them to someone else to blow their heads off! Talk about premeditated.
Also just because something is legal does not mean that you have to do it.
If you have this urge to kill small animals then go into a town centre and start killing all the pigeons they are truly disgusting vermin. (but then again you couldnt do that in secret could you, you would be seen and vilified)
Or failing that get work in an abattoir, they kill animals all day in there.

BTW I am most definitly not a vegatarian, I just prefer my meat pre butchered, in a package. Not still looking at me :D

That only says humanely, which i agree with, but how??

I do not have a gun or know anyone with one.

I've got one :thumbsup:

http://www.backwoodsbound.com/zsquir.html check this out, anyone got a problem with the naughty l,ittle ,fluffy tree luvin critters, PM me, me friend is a expert of getting rid of them!

It is quite amazing reading this and other threads, the delight that some people get from killing things. One person even said he trapped the animal s and then took them to someone else to blow their heads off! Talk about premeditated.
Also just because something is legal does not mean that you have to do it.
If you have this urge to kill small animals then go into a town centre and start killing all the pigeons they are truly disgusting vermin. (but then again you couldnt do that in secret could you, you would be seen and vilified)
Or failing that get work in an abattoir, they kill animals all day in there.

BTW I am most definitly not a vegatarian, I just prefer my meat pre butchered, in a package. Not still looking at me :D
You couldn't kill pigeons in town because you'd need a pest controll licence.

So you don't mind the horror of abatoire deaths on your plate then?

You're not being a hipocrit by any chance?

There are several different species of squirrel in reality. The grey one is certainly American in origin and I think was introduced as an "exotic" - but they escaped and bred like "squirrels!"

They are bigger than the red ones which I saw in a natiional trust "red squirrel sanctuary" - and the warden at the NT centre told me that the grey was more predatory than its Birtish Red cousin and its European Black cousins. It also carries some sort of virus or bacteria which can prove fatal to the weaker native reds and blacks in Europe. I do not know about the American Reds - perhaps they are hardier than the European ones.

As for greys being "vermin" - I would think a large pack (I do not know the collective for "squirrel") would be a health hazard similar to a plague of rats or other rodents..

I do recall seeing a very frightening documentary about an Australian problem in culling rabbits. The film showed literally thousands of wild rabbits devouring crops like a plague of locusts and showed the Australians trying to shoot them... but for each one they killed - they seemed to make no impact. I think they resorted to poison - but I am now 22 and I was about 15 when I saw this documentary on telly.

You couldn't kill pigeons in town because you'd need a pest controll licence.

So you don't mind the horror of abatoire deaths on your plate then?

You're not being a hipocrit by any chance?

Of course I am, if you have read any of my posts you will know that!

However in the course of my work I have seen how feral pigeons live and it is disgusting. They are the filthiest creatures I have set eyes on.
Give me a squirrel any day. They are amusing to watch and dont crap all over the town centre :D

..

I do recall seeing a very frightening documentary about an Australian problem in culling rabbits. The film showed literally thousands of wild rabbits devouring crops like a plague of locusts and showed the Australians trying to shoot them... but for each one they killed - they seemed to make no impact. I think they resorted to poison - but I am now 22 and I was about 15 when I saw this documentary on telly.

http://www.rguppy.freeserve.co.uk/myxomatosis%20fact%20sheet.htm
This is probably what you are thinking about

So if you catch one how do you dispose of it??? As i have 2 i would really like to get rid of.

Had htought of trapping them and taking them to school for release in the woods with others, but i wouldn't want to inflict them on others.

There was a guy in the news last week who was threatened with prosecution after releasing grey squirrels he trapped in his garden. If you trap them, you have two choices. You can kill them yourself with an air rifle or hand them over to the RSPCA to be euthanised.

How about getting someone with a Hawk or some other bird of prey to pay a visit to a site where the grey squirrels are large in number and get the bird to pick em off one by one. I'm not a big fan of grey squirrels, but would much prefer to see the native red squirrels in our parks and woodlands.

My lurcher used to be master of 'despatch' - quick, clean and virtually painless. We did try to discourage him, but the minute your back was turned, he'd be off in the woods and you'd turn round to find him trotting behind with his trophy in his mouth. He's now 10 and not so bothered, but could this be construed as hunting with dogs?

How about getting someone with a Hawk or some other bird of prey to pay a visit to a site where the grey squirrels are large in number and get the bird to pick em off one by one. I'm not a big fan of grey squirrels, but would much prefer to see the native red squirrels in our parks and woodlands.

What is the difference. They are both animals and therefore, according to a lot of people on here, are only fit for tearing to pieces. This time for eating tree bark, which must rank up there amonst the greatest crimes of all time.

What is the difference. They are both animals and therefore, according to a lot of people on here, are only fit for tearing to pieces. This time for eating tree bark, which must rank up there amonst the greatest crimes of all time.

They're also eating a lot of birds which is why many people seem to be trying to get them out of their gardens at the moment. I wouldn't ever condone tearing them to pieces, I was pointing out that it is illegal to trap and re-release them. If you do trap them they must be dispatched humanely.

This time for eating tree bark, which must rank up there amonst the greatest crimes of all time.

They don't in fact eat the bark, - just strip it off and spit it out :)

Nobody appears to know why they do it, but they seem to pick on immature trees and the behaviour is preventing regeneration in some woodlands with large populations of greys. In the long term they're destoying their own habitat and that of many other species.

We have two greys in the trees at the bottom of the garden. I had no Idea that they steal eggs and chicks.. this would explain why the magpies were going crackers the otherday.I cant work out whos nest it is in the tree. I thought the magpies were trying to get the squirrils young from the nest, but maybe it was the other way round.

Hi there i live in ablock of flats 3 storeys high and we have three outside our window every day our neighbour who lives on the second floor told me when we moved into the flats ,that she got up one morning and found 2 sitting on her windowsill.and when my greatgrandson comes he likes to watch them they look so cute to see ,that you dont really think of them as vermine and i didnt know that they ate birds.

Well i for one like grey squirrels, and at work we fed a couple last year and now this year they have brought their babies back to the kitchen window where we feed all the family by hand on brazil nuts etc, I think that this is lovely that they remember us and teach their little-uns that we are not to be scared of, and it's amazing to see the babes become tame and un-afraid of humans.I'll never see them as vermin they are gorgeous bits of wildlife that i can get up and personal with!

You dont hear much people going out with shotguns to go and kill rats! Squirrels are harmless so why the hell would you go out of your way to buy a flaming trap! Yeah, so what, they have steal eggs and what have you but life continues! Surely you people have better things to be doing then going out to kill something which have done nothing to you. Its just nature, do you hunt owls or cats even for hunting and killing mice? Its the same principle, get on with your lifes people. I completely agree with you 'spinny'.

Grey squirrels are simply the Red Ones that are Old.

Like humans, squirrels also become grey in their old age.

I can't understand why people dislike grey squirrels, they have a right to live out their older years in peace, as much as the younger red ones

Lets trap them all and make Squirrel burgers :)

Don't start me off on squizzies! Everyone knows they come from outer space in UFO's. The greys and the reds. Alco area 51 and a half is single handedly trying to eradicate them. They have destroyed my small hadron collider and are single handedly responsible for the demise of the only plant in my garden (an onion)which I was grooming for a lasagne.

Its Legal to trap Grey Squirels bur ILLEGAL to let them go if you trap them .
To Shoot them dont use a Air rifle its not Powerfull enough Tbh you will need at least a 410
Grey Squirels actually make a Tasty meal added to rabbit or if you have a few of them .theres many old english squirel dishes