JohnGalway 1,043 Posted January 9, 2011 Report Share Posted January 9, 2011 Point of debate elsewhere. I need to know if it's illegal to relocate, or release after treatment/rescue foxes in the UK? I need proper references for this which I can link to, not the "It is bescause it's stupid" argument Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dpb82uk 138 Posted January 9, 2011 Report Share Posted January 9, 2011 THE R S P C A DO IT ALL THE TIME SO I DONT THINK ITS illegal Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dan_Mercian 27 Posted January 9, 2011 Report Share Posted January 9, 2011 No it can't be, there was a rescue centre where we used to live in north wingfield which took in ones that were run over/pregnant etc kept them in pens then released them once healed. Place used to stink!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Malt 379 Posted January 9, 2011 Report Share Posted January 9, 2011 I know it's deffo illegal to release grey squirrels once they've been trapped, but I think that's because they're classed as an invasive species.. Not sure about native trapped vermin, I don't think there is a law against releasing them.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnGalway 1,043 Posted January 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2011 No, I'd understand not releasing grey squirrels/mink etc as they'd be classed as alien invasive species I'm sure. Just solely concerned with foxes ATM Not looking good so far lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RicW 67 Posted January 9, 2011 Report Share Posted January 9, 2011 John, I can't give references offhand but I looked closely at this a while back. First, as Mal says, foxes are native species and can be released. However, the release must be humane. If you cage trap an urban fox then it should not be released in a rural setting. It will not know how to hunt; nor will it realise that rural foxes are strongly territorial. It won't last long. If you raise a litter of cubs you must give them "controlled release". Let them out for a night, feed them the next day . . . and as far as I see it, wait for 'em all to die. Essentially, release/relocation is legal but only if the animal can survive in its new environment. Otherwise, it should be kept in captivity, and the conditions for that are closely controlled, or humanely dispatched. Ric Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pitmanuk 2 Posted January 9, 2011 Report Share Posted January 9, 2011 like its already been said the RSPCA do it. they have a release site around by me. we have chickens that get taken because of it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ideation 8,216 Posted January 9, 2011 Report Share Posted January 9, 2011 Wildlife and countryside act 1981 (and as ammended in '85 , and 2000 crow act) it is an offence to release or allow to escape into the wild any species on schedule 9 [ exotics which are natralised such as grey squirel] or schedule 2 part 2 [vermin register which includes fox and a whole load of other stuff] . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Leveller Posted January 9, 2011 Report Share Posted January 9, 2011 It is ilegal as stated in the previous post but you're very unlikely to be done for it as the rescue centres do it all the time Quote Link to post Share on other sites
danw 1,748 Posted January 9, 2011 Report Share Posted January 9, 2011 If you can bear to read this shite it explains all http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/mammal-forums/12943-fox-release.html found that while looking for an answer to the op's question it takes some f*****g reading I can tell you :thumbdown: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
R. Docks 154 Posted January 10, 2011 Report Share Posted January 10, 2011 Wildlife and countryside act 1981 (and as ammended in '85 , and 2000 crow act) it is an offence to release or allow to escape into the wild any species on schedule 9 [ exotics which are natralised such as grey squirel] or schedule 2 part 2 [vermin register which includes fox and a whole load of other stuff] . I'm not sure where you got that information, but I don't think it's relevant in this case. Schedule 2, part 2 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 was amended in 1992 by Statutory Instrument 3010, which lists the following birds as being those which may be taken at any time by any authorised person. Those birds listed are: Crow Corvus corone Dove, Collared Streptopelia decaocto Gull, Great Black-backed Larus marinus Gull, Lesser Black-backed Larus fuscus Gull, Herring Larus argentatus Jackdaw Corvus monedula Jay Garrulus glandarius Magpie Pica pica Pigeon, Feral Columba livia Rook Corvus frugilegus Sparrow, House Passer domesticus Starling Sturnus vulgaris Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Part 1, Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 does indeed prohibit the release of certain species; 14 Introduction of new species etc. E+W (1)Subject to the provisions of this Part, if any person releases or allows to escape into the wild any animal which— (a)is of a kind which is not ordinarily resident in and is not a regular visitor to Great Britain in a wild state; or (b)is included in Part I of Schedule 9, he shall be guilty of an offence. (2)Subject to the provisions of this Part, if any person plants or otherwise causes to grow in the wild any plant which is included in Part II of Schedule 9, he shall be guilty of an offence. (3)Subject to subsection (4), it shall be a defence to a charge of committing an offence under subsection (1) or (2) to prove that the accused took all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid committing the offence. (4)Where the defence provided by subsection (3) involves an allegation that the commission of the offence was due to the act or default of another person, the person charged shall not, without leave of the court, be entitled to rely on the defence unless, within a period ending seven clear days before the hearing, he has served on the prosecutor a notice giving such information identifying or assisting in the identification of the other person as was then in his possession. [F119(5)Any person authorised in writing by the Secretary of State may, at any reasonable time and (if required to do so) upon producing evidence that he is authorised, enter any land for the purpose of ascertaining whether an offence under subsection (1) or (2) is being, or has been, committed on that land; but nothing in this subsection shall authorise any person to enter a dwelling.] [F119(6)Any person who intentionally obstructs a person acting in the exercise of the power conferred by subsection (5) shall be guilty of an offence.] SCHEDULE 9 E+W+S Animals and plants to which section 14 applies Part I E+W+S Animals which are established in the wild Bass, Large-mouthed Black Micropterus salmoides Bass, Rock Ambloplites rupestris Bitterling Rhodeus sericeus Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus Coypu Myocastor coypus [F603Crayfish, Noble] [Astacus astacus] [Crayfish, Signal] [Pacifastacus leniusculus] [Crayfish, Turkish] [Astacus leptodactylus] [F604Deer, Muntjac] [F604Muntiacus reevesi] [Deer, Sika] [Cervus nippon] [F605 Deer, any hybrid one of whose parents or other lineal ancestor was a Sika Deer] [ Any hybrid of Cervus nippon] [ With respect to the Outer Hebrides and the isalnds of Aaran, Islay, Jura and Rum - (a)Deer, Cervus(allspecies)] [F605 Cervus] [F605 (b)Deer, any hybrid one of whose parents or other lineal ancestor was a species of Cervus Deer] [F605 Any hybrid of the genus Cervus] Dormouse, Fat Glis glis Duck, Carolina Wood Aix sponsa Duck, Mandarin Aix galericulata Duck, Ruddy Oxyura jamaicensis Eagle, White-tailed Haliaetus albicilla [Flatworm, New Zealand] [Artiposthia triangulata] Frog, Edible Rana esculenta Frog, European Tree (otherwise known as Common tree frog) Hyla arborea Frog, Marsh Rana ridibunda Gerbil, Mongolian Meriones unguiculatus Goose, Canada Branta canadensis Goose, Egyptian Alopochen aegyptiacus Heron, Night Nycticorax nycticorax Lizard, Common Wall Podarcis muralis Marmot, Prairie (otherwise known as Prairie dog) Cynomys Mink, American Mustela vison Newt, Alpine Triturus alpestris [Newt, Italian Crested] [Triturus carnifex] [F606Owl, Barn] [Tyto alba] Parakeet, Ring-necked Psittacula krameri Partridge, Chukar Alectoris chukar Partridge, Rock Alectoris graeca Pheasant, Golden Chrysolophus pictus Pheasant, Lady Amherst’s Chrysolophus amherstiae Pheasant, Reeves’ Syrmaticus reevesii Pheasant, Silver Lophura nycthemera Porcupine, Crested Hystrix cristata Porcupine, Himalayan Hystrix hodgsonii Pumpkinseed (otherwise known as Sun-fish or Pond-perch) Lepomis gibbosus Quail, Bobwhite Colinus virginianus Rat, Black Rattus rattus [snake, Aesculapian] [Elaphe longissima] Squirrel, Grey Sciurus carolinensis Terrapin, European Pond Emys orbicularis Toad, African Clawed Xenopus laevis Toad, Midwife Alytes obstetricans Toad, Yellow-bellied Bombina variegata Wallaby, Red-necked Macropus rufogriseus Wels (otherwise known as European catfish) Silurus glanis Zander Stizostedion lucioperca I see no mention of foxes there. A word of warning though, anyone releasing foxes could be guilty of an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, if by doing so they caused un-necessary suffering (in the opinion of a judge). The whole legislation can be seen here. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RicW 67 Posted January 10, 2011 Report Share Posted January 10, 2011 A word of warning though, anyone releasing foxes could be guilty of an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, if by doing so they caused un-necessary suffering (in the opinion of a judge).The whole legislation can be seen here. Thanks, that's the reference I needed in my post! Ric Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest chook Posted January 10, 2011 Report Share Posted January 10, 2011 Simple answer - no its not. for things like grey squirrel that are not native, you would need a licence. http://wildlife1.wildlifeinformation.org/s/00Ref/miscellaneouscontents/bwrc-guidelines/4Release.htm http://www.bwrc.org.uk/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
R. Docks 154 Posted January 10, 2011 Report Share Posted January 10, 2011 (edited) Simple answer - no its not. for things like grey squirrel that are not native, you would need a licence. http://wildlife1.wildlifeinformation.org/s/00Ref/miscellaneouscontents/bwrc-guidelines/4Release.htm http://www.bwrc.org.uk/ Schedule 9 of the W&C Act (as amended by SI)only lists non-native species which may not be released. The only legislation that would have applied is the Abandonment of Animals Act of 1960 which was repealed as part of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Can anyone find a reference to the legislation (not an animal rights website) that states that it is illegal? Edited January 10, 2011 by R. Docks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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