Non-native species banned?

[Gazo]

Shooters have reacted with astonishment after DEFRA revealed that green pheasants, helmeted guineafowl and ferrets are among the species that could be added to Schedule 9 of the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act.
The newly published public consultation will make it illegal to sell or release certain species into the wild.

According to DEFRA, invasive non-native species are considered the second greatest threat to wildlife after habitat destruction. The reworking of Schedule 9 comes as a direct result of the consultation into the GB invasive non-native species framework strategy, which concluded in May this year.

This move has received surprised responses from industry bodies and game industry workers. A DEFRA spokesperson said that many of the species it is considering adding to Schedule 9 are already established in the wild, but continue to pose a conservation threat to native biodiversity. "They can have adverse impacts on native wildlife by predation, competition and spread of disease. It is important to point out that this is a consultation, and we welcome responses on the proposals."

Dr Stephen Tapper, of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, pointed out that though these proposals tidy up this part of the Act, "It is already illegal to release animals into the wild that are not normally resident here. So, for many species, such as wild boar, ruddy duck and Chinese water deer, it looks rather like closing the barn door after the horse has bolted."

[giraffe]

I guess their jobs are under threat Gaz, so they'd better think of something to throw in the "works"

Funny thing though, nothing to do directly with our sport, but I don't remember any mention of the time when they were closing down all the "Mental Hospitals" (that's what they were known as) though, and releasing all the clients into the "wild". Something that I witnessed first hand and some of these people had been born in these damn institutions.

For me this makes a mockery of some the modern day thinkin, especially the way that DEFRA perform (or not as the case may be).

Al

[HUNTER_ZERO]

Originally Posted by Gazo

ferrets are among the species that could be added to Schedule 9 of the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Not sure 'they' can do that; ferrets are classed as domesticated animals and fall under a different set of laws.

John

[tankman]

also ,someone who caught by accident ,a grey squirrel, and then,set it free ,were prosecuted,

[pepperami]

why is it that when a foreign critter starts to make a nuisence of itself on these shores the powers that be want it dealt with.
we find out it`s a tasty treat but when you propose shooting & trapping it all of a sudden there is a whole raft of laws to stop you?????

for example most authorities, agencies, ect that have land have a problem with squirrels, but can you imagine the response you would get from them if you asked to shoot on thier land

one terrible day there will be no airguns in this country and i only hope that the biggest plauge of non native rats comes to our shores then.
who will deal with this problem ? not us after all we wont have our beloved guns due to all the laws in place.


sorry i`ll get of my soapbox now

[Lez325]

Originally Posted by tankman

also ,someone who caught by accident ,a grey squirrel, and then,set it free ,were prosecuted,

Good Grey squirrel do untold damage to wildlife and trees in this country- they are soley responsible for driving out the native RED squirrel - I shoot dozens of these little grey bandits and it is LAW that once caught the Grey squirrel cannot be released back into the wild

Kill E'm all I say and Im doing my best to eradicate squirrels on all of my shoots but there are so many- its going to be a long weary task

Rant over

Les

[monkeyhanger]

Talking of shooting Grey squirrels. According to an article in the Sunday Observor last weekend. Grey squirrel is now a delicacy in some parts of the country and the Butchers they spoke to couldn't get enough of them.

So if I could actually hit one - which I doubt - does this new law meqan I can take it down the Butchers to sell or not???