Can GREY squirrels be released UK?

It’s illegal in the UK for anyone to release grey squirrels into the wild from December 2019. This means that wildlife rescue centres in England which previously took in, rehabilitated and released wild grey squirrels, will instead have to kill them, on both practical and ethical grounds.

How do you humanely kill a GREY squirrel?

There are two recognised humane dispatch methods: shooting (single shot to the back of the head) or by cranial dispatch (using no more than two blows to the head).

Are GREY squirrels invasive UK?

The invasive greys, brought to Britain and Ireland from North America in the 1870s, are blamed for the disappearance of the native red throughout much of England and Wales, due to the squirrel pox virus they transmit and the fact that they compete for food and habitat with their smaller relatives.

How did GREY squirrels get rid of red squirrels?

Grey squirrels carry a disease called squirrel parapox virus, which does not appear to affect their health but often kills red squirrels. Grey squirrels are more likely to eat green acorns, so will decimate the food source before reds get to them.

Is releasing GREY squirrels illegal?

It is illegal to release a trapped grey squirrel into the wild or to keep a grey squirrel in captivity. Any grey squirrel caught must be humanely destroyed.

Is it illegal to rescue a grey squirrel?

The grey squirrel is regarded as an invasive non-native species following its inclusion under Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Country Act 1981. Under Schedule 9 of the WCA, it is illegal to release a grey squirrel into the wild, or allow one to escape, without a license granted by Natural England.

How do I get rid of grey squirrels in my garden UK?

Find out how to deal with grey squirrels in the garden, below.

1. Protect your plants. Protecting planted bulbs from squirrels with a layer of chicken wire.
2. Squirrel-proof your feeders. Squirrel-proof bird feeder with greenfinch.
3. Use fruit cages.
4. Grow food plants.
5. Frighten them off.
6. Watch out for breakable containers.

Is it illegal to shoot squirrels?

Grey squirrels have limited legal protection and as the law stands it is perfectly legal to kill grey squirrels as long it is done in a humane manner. Despite this, the Wildlife Act 2006 states that it is against the law to cause any unnecessary suffering to an animal under your care.

Is it illegal to release squirrels?

Are UK grey squirrels protected?

Grey squirrels have limited legal protection and can be controlled all year round by a variety of methods including shooting and trapping. It is an offence under section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) to introduce and release grey squirrels into the wild.

Why were grey squirrels imported to the UK?

Grey squirrels were imported into the UK from North America in the Victorian era. Collectors, animal lovers and wealthy landowners brought them to the UK as curiosities. The first recorded introduction was at Hanbury Park In Cheshire in 1876.

Why are there no red squirrels in England?

The red squirrel is officially classed as Near Threatened in England, Wales and Northern Ireland but is locally common in Scotland. The main cause behind their decline is the introduction of grey squirrels from America. When red squirrels are put under pressure they will not breed as often.

Are grey squirrels a problem in the UK?

Grey Squirrel Control Since their introduction into Britain in the 1870s, grey squirrels have spread rapidly. They have displaced the red squirrel throughout most of England and Wales and in south-east and central Scotland. Grey squirrels can cause serious problems for foresters, native wildlife and gamekeepers.

Why are grey squirrels being genetically modified?

GREY squirrels are facing extermination in Britain — through genetic engineering. The woodland pest is being targeted by the scientists who cloned Dolly the sheep. They want to implant a gene into thousands of males to ensure any female offspring are infertile.

Is it legal to release squirrels into the wild in the UK?

Edinburgh Napier University provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK. It’s illegal in the UK for anyone to release grey squirrels into the wild from December 2019.

What is the government doing to control the grey squirrels?

The Government has a long-term strategy to help control grey squirrel populations where they are identified as a specific threat to forestry or to existing populations of red squirrels. see the grey squirrels policy and action plan (PDF, 161KB, 5 pages) for more information.