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- What is a police wildlife crime officer? [Click Here]
- This is an officer designated to deal with or advise on all aspects of crime being committed against any form of wildlife in the UK. This can range from illegal trade in endangered species (or parts or derivatives of these species) to crime committed against indigenous birds and mammals and also against certain plants, insects, fish, shellfish and crustaceans.
- Does this specialist role only cover crime against wildlife? [Click Here]
- No, the officers ensure that offences relating to poaching, cruelty, dogs and offences against the environment are properly dealt with. They also advise landowners, farmers and gamekeepers of the best course of action to obtain sufficient evidence for a poaching (or hare coursing) case to succeed in court.
- How can police officers cope with such a diverse range of crimes? [Click Here]
- Though wildlife crime officers receive considerable specialised training, they still cannot be expected to be experts in all fields of wildlife, animal or environmental crime. However the officers have a network of government and non-government organisations or groups that they can contact for help or advice. Many investigations into wildlife or environmental crimes involve more than one agency, thus taking best advantage of available expertise.
- Do wildlife crime officers carry out any educational initiatives? [Click Here]
- Talks are regularly given to interested groups. These may be specialist groups, such as badger groups or young ornithologists, however many presentations are given either to address a particular problem or to make a group on interested people more aware of how to identify and report crimes against wildlife. A project is also run annually with primary schools.
- What can I do if I suspect that a wildlife crime is taking place? [Click Here]
- Wildlife crime can take many forms. It may be that you suspect that someone is trading illegally in plants or animals, collecting birds' eggs, or setting out poisoned baits for wildlife. If this is the case you should contact the police and ask if possible to speak to a wildlife crime officer. The officer will then discuss the best course of action.
- Are snares legal? [Click Here]
- The snaring of rabbits and foxes is legal and carried out regularly. The snaring of brown hares is also legal though carried out less often. Certain conditions must apply for the snaring to be legal. The snares must be checked at least once in every period of 24 hours; any animal caught must be taken out at each visit and the snares must not be self-locking.
- What type of traps are legal to catch mammals? [Click Here]
- The main type of trap legally used to catch mammals is called a tunnel trap. As its name suggests this is a trap set in a tunnel and normally used for catching stoats, weasels, rats and grey squirrels. A slightly larger trap can legally be used to catch these species plus rabbits and mink. The entrance (or entrances) to the tunnel must only be large enough to allow access to the largest of the target species, and this way prevents larger, non-target species being caught. This trap must never be set in the open or set to catch birds.
- What traps may legally be used to catch birds? [Click Here]
- There are two types of live-catch cages permitted. The smaller of these, called a Larsen trap, has three compartments. The largest compartment is for holding either bait or a live member of the crow family (other than a raven or chough) to act as a decoy. Invariably this is a carrion crow or a magpie. Pigeons or other smaller birds not of the crow family must not be used as decoys. The other two compartments are for catching the members of the same species enticed in to the trap. The decoy bird must have sufficient food, water, shelter and a perch. Pigeons or other smaller birds not of the crow family must not be used as decoys. The larger cage is normally about 4mx4mx3m and normally also used with a crow as a decoy bird, though occasionally with jackdaws or rooks as decoys to lure others of the same species in. If a call bird is used it must have sufficient food, water, shelter and a perch. Both traps must be checked daily, at which time birds caught must be removed and any non-target species released unharmed.
- What should I do if I suspect an offence with a trap or a snare? [Click Here]
- If in doubt make contact from the scene with the police wildlife crime officer and explain the circumstances. If this cannot be done make contact with a wildlife crime officer at the first opportunity. Photographs are a great help, especially if they can be emailed to the wildlife crime officer for confirmation. Unless you are sure that an offence is being committed do not interfere with traps or snares.
- Is it legal to chase hares with dogs? [Click Here]
- It is completely illegal not only to chase hares with a dog or dogs but to search for them for this purpose. It is important to report this type of incident to the police as soon as possible as anyone involved is normally away from the area within a short time. If a vehicle registration number can also be obtained that is a great benefit to an investigation.
- What should I do if I find a dead animal or bird in the countryside and I think it has been poisoned? [Click Here]
- Most pesticides used to kill wildlife are extremely toxic to humans as well as animals or birds and anything suspected to be bait or the victim of poisoned bait should not be touched. A police wildlife crime officer should be contacted as soon as possible and if the bait or victim has to be left, it may prevent any further birds - though not animals - being affected by covering it up until the police can retrieve it. Though pesticide abuse still occurs, it must be borne in mind that many animals or birds die of natural causes or as the result of accidents. Initial questions asked by the police will be to try to determine whether or not the death is suspicious.
- Is it an offence to open freshwater pearl mussels to see of there is a pearl inside? [Click Here]
- Freshwater pearl mussels are completely protected and it is an offence even to lift them off the river bed.
- Is it an offence to keep a collection of wild birds' eggs? [Click Here]
- If the eggs were taken before 1954 - and it is up to the person having the eggs to show this - no offence is committed in keeping the collection. It is, of course, an offence to take the eggs of any wild bird or to sell any wild bird's egg, no matter when the egg was collected.
- Is it an offence to keep a dead bird of animal killed on the road and have it stuffed? [Click Here]
- In general it is an offence to possess a dead bird or a dead protected animal (for example a badger or pine marten as opposed to a rabbit or hare, which can legitimately be controlled in any case). However there is an exception if the person in possession of the protected animal or bird can show that it died or was killed other than as a result of a crime committed against it. Road traffic victims would fall in to this category and could legally be kept and used in taxidermy. To be on the safe side it may be worth having the animal or bird examined by a vet (though they may not always be able to tell how it died without opening it up) or reporting the find to a police wildlife crime officer. After 15 February 2007 dead otters and wildcats may not be taken for taxidermy. Any already in someone's possession and taken after 10 June 1994 must be registered with the Scottish Government. (See this document for further advice)
- Is it legal to dig up wild plants? [Click Here]
- All plants on Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 are protected. These are the rarest plants, such as wild orchids and it is an offence even to pick such a plant. The more common plants, such as bluebells, snowdrops and primroses may be dug up provided the landowner has given permission, though it is an offence to engage in any commercial trade in wild bluebells.
- Do any precautions need to be taken before a tree or a bush is cut down in the spring or early summer? [Click Here]
- At that time of year birds may well be nesting. It is an offence to kill a bird or damage a nest while it is in use if this is done intentionally or recklessly. To avoid any risk of committing an offence trees and bushes should be checked for active nests so far as this can reasonably be done from the ground. No-one expects trees to be climbed to ensure there are no nests in them.
- If I have bats in my loft what should I do? [Click Here]
- In most cases bats and their human hosts live in harmony. It would do no harm to report their presence to either Scottish Natural Heritage or to a member of a bat group for their records as the bats may be one of the rarer species. Bats mostly come into lofts to breed during the summer and leave again in autumn. If they pose problems during this time direct action must not be taken against them but contact made with Scottish Natural Heritage for advice. Like the otter and the wild cat, all UK species of bats are European Protected Species (EPS) and have full protection under the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations 1994. (See this document for further advice)
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