"Alan Holmes" wrote in message
...

"BAC" wrote in message
...

"Alan Holmes" wrote in message
...

"BAC" wrote in message
...

"Alan Holmes" wrote in message
...

"BAC" wrote in message
...

"John Edgar" wrote in message
ups.com...
In what way is it illegal to kill vermin by drowning them? One of
the
best ways I would have thought. I believe it is illegal to drown
humans, but grey squirrels?

It was technically made illegal by virtue of the Wild Mammals
Protection
Act
1996 which included drowning amongst the list of abuses outlawed
from
30th
April 1997. I don't know whether the RSPCA has actually brought
charges
against anyone for drowning a wild mammal, though, or if they
have,
whether
the perpetrator was convicted.

It is the method recomended by the Forestry Commistion for the
disposal
of
this type of vermin.


Is it? Do you have a reference for that? Did you perhaps receive that
advice
prior to April 1997?

Please enlighten me, what happened on April 1997.


The Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 came into force, as previously
stated.
I was speculating it might be possible, that, as a consequence of
deliberate
drowning being listed as an abuse, the FC may have amended its position
regarding despatch of grey squirrels by drowning.

I have asked the RSPCA whether, in their opinion, drowning of grey
squirrels
is a humane form of killing live trapped squirrels, and their response
was
that the squirrels should be despatched either by shooting or by a
lethal
blow to the head.

Have any of them ever tried to get one into a position where one could
strike
a lethal blow to the head?

And what is their view of killing rats and mice?



Sorry to respond for a second time to the same posting, but the query
regarding the killing of rats and mice prompted me to investigate whether
drowning was considered a humane method of dispatching rats caught in a cage
trap.

See

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/rd...cal/TAN_34.pdf

which is the DEFRA Technical Advice Note for dealing with rat infestations.
From which I quote,

"Cage Traps
This method is time consuming, but is a viable
alternative to baiting in situations where resistance is
suspected or when high value crops require protection.
A large number of cage traps are required and prebaiting
is necessary to achieve effective control. Traps
should be located carefully to protect captured animals
from extreme weather conditions or temperatures, and
from flooding.
The benefit of using cage traps is that any non-target
species that are captured can be released unharmed.
Traps should be checked twice a day, in the early
morning and late afternoon. Any captured rats must be
humanely despatched, either by a single blow to the
head or by shooting. Drowning is not a humane
method of dispatch and could result in prosecution
under the Protection of Animals Act 1911."

You will note what it says about drowning as a means of dispatch. If
drowning rats isn't regarded as humane, I doubt very much whether drowning
grey squirrels is, either.