beccabunga writes


They die of starvation - mice need to eat constantly. I don't like
these "humane" traps. They stress the animal and by letting them loose
one is breaking the law since they are vermin.

Googling reveals a number of councils which recommend humane traps and
release, eg Bexley:

"Are there kinder methods?

Yes. You can use a humane trap. Put some chocolate or peanut butter
(mice do not like cheese) into the plastic trap, which will close behind
the mouse leaving it trapped but not dead. It is then up to you to
release it. Mice will return if not released far enough away from your
home."

The only provisions against release into the wild that I can find are
for animals which are not regarded as UK wildlife, eg grey squirrels.

There also does not seem to be a legal definition of vermin (and hence
no legislation against releasing 'vermin' into the wild) - from Hansard:

"8 Oct 2003 : Column WA60
Vermin

Lord Selsdon asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which mammals and other animals are classified as
"vermin".[HL4559]

Lord Whitty: There is no definition of the term "vermin" in UK law. In
such a situation the Oxford Dictionary definition should be applied.

The Oxford Dictionary defines "vermin" as "Animals of a noxious or
objectionable kind. Originally applied to reptiles, stealthy, or slinky
animals, and various wild beasts; now, excluding in US and Australia,
almost entirely restricted to those animals or birds which prey upon
preserved game . . ."

The Small Ground Vermin Traps Order 1958 and the various Spring Traps
Approval Orders, refer to "small ground vermin". Neither the orders nor
the Pests Act 1954, under which they are made, define this term or
provide an exclusive list of species. However, the following animals are
listed under various orders: moles, grey squirrels, rabbits, mink,
stoats, weasels, rabbits, rats, and mice.

Traps approved under the Spring Traps Approval Order 1995 do not apply
to small ground vermin listed in Schedules 5 and 6 to the Wildlife and
Countryside Act 1981. This means that red squirrels, dormice, water
voles, shrews, hedgehogs, polecats and a number of other species are
excluded."


--
Kay