Can my neighbours legally shoot pigeons and squirrels in their garden?

[andyasw]

Does statute permit or forbid this activity in English counties? Are homeowners lawfully allowed to shoot and destroy pigeons and grey squirrels?

[honeybee13]

Why do you want to do this please?

 

HB

[dx100uk]

can i shoot grey squirrells in my back garden? - Bing

 

Neighbour shooting wood pigeons with an air rifle - Wildlife Protection - Wildlife - The RSPB Community

 

 

[unclebulgaria67]

Be careful as squirrels are quite protective of their family and friends. If they see someone shoot or harm a squirrel they know, they have been known to plot revenge. Quite incredible, but these are fairly intelligent animals.

 

 

[andyasw]

For the record - I'm not killing the wildlife, it's my neighbour whom I tackled about it. His response was that he was within his rights to shoot what he described as "vermin".

 

[BankFodder]

How is your neighbour proposing to do this? If it is with some kind of airgun then if there is the slightest hint that one of the pellets is escaping from their property in other words travelling over your property, I would call the police immediately

[Ethel Street]

The General Licence to shoot pigeons and certain other birds was changed in 2020 and is now much more restrictive.

 

You cannot shoot Woodpigeons in your back garden, only on on growing crops

 

General licences 2021: what you can and can’t shoot – Fieldsports Channel

 

Report it to the Police 111 service. Or the RSPCA (not sure if it's in RSPCA's remit).

 

Worthwhile getting some evidence before doing so. Video clips on your phone showing the neighbour identifiable, gun in hand and firing, would be just to job, but don't put yourself at risk if you think your neighbour might turn aggressive if he sees you.

[andyasw]

The neighbour uses an air rifle but many thanks to Ethel for the regulations, I will confront him after filming him using the gun.

[dx100uk]

pressure of the air rifle/gun is also important, above xxx they can't

[Homer67]

The air rifle must be within non FAC required power (unless he has an FAC) of no more than 12lb square foot pressure.

 

He is is within the law to shoot pigeons and grey squirrels as they are both not protected and are classed as vermin/pests

 

He must ensure that the pellets he fires cannot leave his property, if you believe that they are leaving his property you can report to the Police.

Edited July 5, 2021 by Homer67
added info, typo

[Ethel Street]

56 minutes ago, Homer67 said:

He is is within the law to shoot pigeons and grey squirrels as they are both not protected and are classed as vermin/pests

The law changed on 1st January  this year. There is no longer a general right to shoot birds classified as vermin/pests.

 

Gov.uk up dated the law here   New general licences for the control of wild birds - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

 

Woodpigeons can only be shot when on growing crops, not in your back garden.

[Homer67]

22 hours ago, Ethel Street said:

The law changed on 1st January  this year. There is no longer a general right to shoot birds classified as vermin/pests.

 

Gov.uk up dated the law here   New general licences for the control of wild birds - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

 

Woodpigeons can only be shot when on growing crops, not in your back garden.

As far as I can see the OP didn't say Woodpigeons, presuming they are just the standard feral pigeons then they are classed as pests and can be humanely culled.

[Ethel Street]

OP didn't specify feral pigeons either.

 

The rules about feral pigeons only permit shooting to preserve public health and public safety in limited circumstances, none of which are mentioned by OP.

 

Even if it turns out that one of the General Licence GL41 conditions does applyt it remains the case that the advice you gave - " pigeons...are not protected and are classed as vermin/pests..." - is no longer correct.

[Homer67]

That's incorrect, feral pigeons and grey squirrels are classed as pests and to justify humanely killing them one just needs to have evidence of them causing damage to property which includes plants and and crops.

 

I suggest you take a look here:

General licences 2021: what you can and can’t shoot – Fieldsports Channel

WWW.FIELDSPORTSCHANNEL.TV

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Updated 25 November 2020 This page shows advice by country: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland The current, shambolic general licences...

 

 

[Ethel Street]

I suggest OP follows the guidance on gov.uk linked in post #11.  "Pest" does not appear once in the guidance or the law.