Rat problem at rented property

bouicca21

Had rats in the garden at previous house - attracted, as they typically are, by the bird table (those birds are so untidy, they're always dropping bits of food onto the grass ). Worked out where they were coming from, put a trap down, got the big one. Trap carefully placed where dogs and/or visiting children would not get hurt. Bingo, the younger ones did not return, so no more problem (and no more bird table either, just in case).

DominicJ_2

http://www.ufaw.org.uk/documents/GuidanceonhumanecontrolofrodentsFeb2509V19.pdf

"

(ii) Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (WCA) (available at

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/about_legislation.htm) prohibits the release into the
wild any animal which is 1) of a kind that is not ordinarily resident in and is not a
regular visitor to GB in a wild state or 2) is included in Part 1 of Schedule 9. Currently
(June 2008), the black rat (Rattus rattus), the fat/edible dormouse (Glis glis), the grey
squirrel (Sciureus carolinensis) and the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) are

listed on Part 1 of Schedule 9 and therefore cannot be released, except under licence."

Its not quite as cut and dry as I thought, but you cant realease certain animals (legaly defined vermin or pests) and you cant release anything on someone elses land.

Werdnal

I have seen this regulation before, and it clearly states that "not normally resident" animals are not permitted for release. Therefore the normal voles, house and field mice and rats are permitted to be released. My putting out a live and perfectly unharmed mouse that that cat has brough in from my garden is not a problem!

I agree you are not supposed to release them on other people's land, but can do so with the landowners permission.