Squirrel problems

[Digit]

I grant you that Jake, but I would hope that laws were drafted without inferences being necessary, as published by DEFRA I read it as I stated.
Surely laws are not drafted in such an ambiguous manner?
DEFRA, by the way is known locally as The Department Against Farming and Rural Activities.

Roy.

 

[Jake]

They are unfortunately drafted in terms of legal concepts to some degree (and probably unavoidably so). Criminal law is framed around the concept of intent (and recklessness), and to someone familiar with those concepts that section jumps out as the heart of the offence, in a way that probably isn't so obvious. I don't know that much can be done about that, but then I'm immersed in it.

 

[Digit]

I'll also hazard a guess that whoever drafted the rules on Squirrels has never tried to hit anything squirming around in a sack, you might even find such an item hard to come by now a days as well.
I see one of the ideas is to put them all on the pill! I wonder if my GP would be prepared to sign the prescription?
It is also strange the way Reynard being killed results in Parliament spending 700 hrs on debates on the subject, yet eliminating the Coypu, having a go at Grey Squirrels, the Mitten Crab and the Cormorant never raised an eyebrow, I wonder why?

Roy.

 

[White House Workshop]

It's like the laws on poaching -- if you hit a pheasant, say, with your car and kill it you may NOT stop and pick it up as that is defined as poaching. However, the car behind you can legally stop and pick it up as it is then simply a dead animal. Of course, if there's anyone around to see you pick up a nice Sunday lunch I'd think most of them would comment 'lucky so-and-so'. I would...

 

[Digit]

You can get round that by getting your dog to pick it up. Mind you, you've then got to get the dog to give it up! :lol:

Roy.

 

[Taffy Turner]

I'll also hazard a guess that whoever drafted the rules on Squirrels has never tried to hit anything squirming around in a sack

I would suggest that anyone stupid enough to try "humanely" killing a squirrel by battering it to death in a sack deserves to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. (And i would quite like a quiet word with them too).

I'm not against killing them - just do it humanely or not at all.

Gary

PS - A decent high powered air rifle is the ideal way to despatch them, provided that are sufficiently expert to expect to make a clean kill 9 times out of 10. If not, then blazing away in your attic is likely to result in a few leaky slates!

Failing that, ring the council and get them to send the pest control officer round!

 

[YorkieT]

A decent high powered air rifle is the ideal way to despatch them, provided that are sufficiently expert to expect to make a clean kill 9 times out of 10.

!

That's what I would do and then into the pot :wink: but one of my other great passions is hunting / pest control with an air rifle, pity you are so far away :wink:

YorkieT

 

[Digit]

I too use an air rifle, but since the Rooks took over the Pine trees the Squirrels have sought 'fresh woods and pastures new', I'm pleased to say.

Roy.

 

[doorboy]

They hate the smell of mothballs. If they are nesting in a hard-to-get-to place, maybe you can fire a few at them with a slingshot.
If all goes well, you will get rid of them AND avoid prosecution!

 

[Digit]

They hate the smell of mothballs.

But first catch your Moth.
OK I'm leaving!

Roy.

 

[devonwoody]

The animals in the loft might be a glisglis and the law protects them.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countr ... isglis.htm

 

[mr]

The animals in the loft might be a glisglis and the law protects them.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countr ... isglis.htm

Unlikely though Shepperton isn't in the Chilterns (as far as I'm aware) which is where the Glis glis hangs out according to that DEFRA doc.

Cheers Mike

 

[Digit]

And further south than the Chilterns.
Please don't expect DEFRA to actually get something correct, it's beyond them!

Roy.