Are you allowed to kill Grey Squirrels?

Question

My kids love to watch a Grey Squirrel come into our garden each morning but this morning I was horrified when I opened the bedroom curtains. The neighbour had caught the squirrel in a cage in their garden and now it has gone once their gardener has been, he didn't carry it out with him so I'm assuming he has killed it! Feel horrible.....i could have gone and asked them if I could take it to a park and set it free...my kids loved to watch it climb our tree. Are you allowed to just kill them in the UK?

Answer 1

Grey ones yes, there are getting too many of them and have taken over the Red ones habitats, There Garden rats and they steal nuts off my tree, i say kill the little feckers

Answer 2

if the gardener knows the law then the squirrel will have met his maker i am afraid-it is illegal to release a squirrel into the wild once caught.

i work in pest control and i have seen £000's worth of damage done to lofts etc due to squirrel activity.

and for all their cuteness they can be vicious if cornered.

i am paid to cull them-a job i have no sorrow in carrying out because they are a bloody nuisance.

Answer 3

Yes

Answer 4

OK You said that you assumed they killed it.   It may be that they were trying to catch something else and the squirrel just happened to get caught.   The gardener could have just let it go.   The squirrel would have been traumatized, so it probably ran to it's nest for a while.   Just a thought.   Keep it on the bright side for your children.   Either way, you and the kids will see more squirrels.   You can put out some bird seed to encourage more to come to your yard.   But the answer to your question is yes, Grey Squirrels can be killed legally.  

Answer 5

I wouldn't have thought so.  I just assumed that you'd need a licence as an exterminator or something.  I reckon the advice to contact the RSPCA is a good one though.

Answer 6

You are allowed to kill them, and if the neighbour had released it, then he would have been breaking the law. They are vermin and it is illegal to release them once caught.

Answer 7

yes but if he found food water and shelter in your area then more will be around.  let you neighbors know you saw it and that you take issue with it and if it happens again that you would be willing to take it to the park for release.  They can be pests for some people's landscapes, your neighbors should plant some squirrel resistant plants, there are lots out there.

Answer 8

Im not sure, but either way its cruelty, I say contact the RSPCA and ask for their expert opinions, and if they say it is illegal to kill the squirrels, give them the address and details of your neighbour!

Answer 9

These nasty rats with furry tails may be (and should be) slaughtered at every opportunity.

I normally stew them for about three hours, allow to cool and remove all the bones. The remaining meat makes the basis of a tasty stew.

Answer 10

Yes they are classified as vermen, it is nasty and the law needs to change

Answer 11

yep.

Answer 12

only if you do it nicely. They are rodents.  Haven't you asked this before?

Answer 13

for what reason would he do this, what an evil person and how cruel of this person

Answer 14

Assuming you live in the UK you are allowed to humanely kill grey squirrels. It is actually illegal to release them as they are vermin. (Wildlife & Countryside Act 1994).

Answer 15

nope report them to rspca