Gareee© wrote:
"Martin" wrote in message
...

Geezer From The Freezer wrote:

Get the snake out and take it to the nearest river.

really bad advice, this could well be illegal. The RSPCA will come out and
take care of it for you.


Actually, this is exactly what our local animal control people told us. If a
snake is NOT poisonous and a threat, they will not come and remove it, but
they told us to catch him, and relocate him into a nearby stream or lake.

Are you in the UK?

If it is a animal not native to the area, I can see that being an issue, but
if it something native to the area, and not a threat, then I don't see an
issue at all.

How do you know whether it's native or not unless a good identification
has been made? Equally whether or not it's poisonous? The poster said he
lived s/w England and had an unidentified snake.

The RSPCA will come and shift it for you, or at the very least come and
identify it and tell you what the law is regarding it. Again, it could
well be illegal to move it out to the countryside.

From the act "Further protection is offered to the rarest species. Any
form of deliberate or reckless disturbance to these species is a
criminal offence, as is possession of these species at any life stage.
Licences may be granted for the handling of these animals, for
scientific or conservation purposes."

If you try to move one of these protected species you can be prosecuted
for it, whether you want it in your pond or not. Draining the pond would
also be illegal, fencing it in, cleaning or most other things if it
disturbs the protected species.