Our Objectives

Grey Squirrel Protection UK campaigns for changes to the law

First: To seek an amendment to the Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019, to enable the re-release of grey squirrels into the wild. Although rescue centres can still apply for a licence to keep UK grey squirrels, it can no longer release them. This makes UK Grey Squirrel rescue extremely difficult, to the point of being impossible, because the residential places fill up very quickly and new clients cannot be taken in. When places are full, the only option remaining is for vets to euthanise perfectly healthy grey squirrels. This should not be an option as it is inhuman and barbaric.

Second: To seek an amendment to the Hunting Act 2004 and other legislation. Under the current legislation, intent must be proven when a dog owner allows their dog to chase wildlife, including grey squirrels. Although the majority of dog owners are responsible, some are not. The amendment would make it a criminal offence for dog owners ating negligently, enabling their dog to chase wildlife, whilst failing to immediately intervene.

Third: To seek change in the law to make it a criminal offence for members of the public to trap and/or kill UK Grey Squirrels.

Fourth: To seek a change in the law to make it a criminal offence for any company or organisation to trap and/or kill UK Grey Squirrels.

Fifth: To seek a change in the law to ban the sale and use of spring traps. and make the selling and purchasing of such contraptions a criminal offence. Often these traps do not kill outright, and cause unbearable pain and suffering to the trapped animal, when the spring trap clamps onto a limb, fracturing bones and severing arteries.

Sixth: To make it a criminal offence for individuals or organisations to encourage or glorify the killing of UK Grey Squirrels.

Seventh: If a complete ban on the killing of UK Grey Squirrels is not possible, then we at least seek a ban on the killing of UK Grey Squirrels during the twice annual 'baby season', when grey squirrel mothers are nursing their kittens. Kittens are born blind and only open their eyes after 5 weeks. They are solely reliant on their mothers for everything during this time. When grey squirrel mums are slaughtered, their kittens die slowly in agonising pain, of starvation or thirst, that is if a predator does not get to them first or they freeze to death. Without their mums they are petrified.

Eighth: Irish grey squirrels, Italian grey squirrels and Dutch grey squirrels are suffering too, due to Regulation (EU) 1143/2014 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species. Grey Squirrel Protection UK requests that the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is removed from the list of 'invasive alien species'. Grey squirrels are part of the UK, part of Ireland, part of Italy, and part of the Netherlands. They are neither invasive nor alien. Just as the United States and Denmark applied pressure on the European Union to remove Mink and American Lobster from the list of 'invasive alien species', we campaign for the Grey Squirrel to be removed from that list too! We also call upon the Irish, Italian and Dutch peoples and MEPs for their assistance in this particular plight!

In case you are thinking that persuading the UK government (and devolved governments) to change the law regarding UK grey squirrels is an impossible task, we can assure you it is not. Section 5 (2) of the Destructive Imported Animals Act 1932, imposed a fine of £5 for failing to report a grey squirrel sighting in your own back garden. This pointless and illiberal piece of legislation was scrapped by the then Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, just over a decade ago. This shows that it can be done, and that bit by bit, with your help, we are able to improve the current dire situation for the UK Grey Squirrel.

The vast majority of organisations are informing the public that grey squirrels cannot be released if they are trapped, and that they must be killed. This is false. If the squirrel is trapped (for example, in a bird feeder, on your property, or in netting in a park), free it. The law still permits freeing grey squirrels and releasing them where they were found. www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife/squirrels/injured

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