Am I committing an offence?

[vole-woman]

I've just been reading up on the recently-tightened water vole legislation, and one of the points made is that it's an offence to own dead water voles or derivations of.

I keep a water vole skull on my window sill, one that I picked up while I was doing some survey work in January. Is owning the skull technically breaking the law?

[vole-woman]

Water voles are now fully protected under the wildlife and Countryside Act 1981


From the 6th April 2008 water voles became subject to increased legal protection and are now fully covered by the provisions of section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended).

Legal protection makes it an offence to:

• Intentionally kill, injure or take water voles
• Possess or control live or dead water voles or derivatives
• Intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to any structure or place used for shelter or protection
• Intentionally or recklessly disturb water voles whilst occupying a structure or place used for that purpose
• Sell water voles or offer or expose for sale or transport for sale
• Publish or cause to be published any advertisement which conveys the buying or selling of water voles.

[Lance Morgan]

Technically I suppose it is but I don't think the police would class it as major crime.

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

Its a very good question and I don't no the answer. But on the same lines and I don't want to hi jack the thread, think of it more as shifting the focus from vole woman on to a bigger threat.

If a dog is sniffing and scratching at a water vole burrow are the owners then breaking the law for not keeping the dogs under contol. Obviously the man who let his dogs attack and kill a swan must be held responcable. But dogs will always sniff, thats what dogs do. What damage needs to have been done and what evidence is required?

BWD

[Dan Salter]

We have been discussing the new ammendmants to the wildlife and countryside act in class, while its a great improvement for the protected species it does throw up concerns regarding wildlife taxidermy, collections and educational material. Some of our lecturers in field biology etc have dead specimens of bats, dormice, voles, mice, inverts etc (all found dead i might add)..these are a great tool to get up close to a rarely seen animal for educational purposes...i often pick up skulls that i find myself...but now technically owning a dead or any part of a dead animal that is protected is illegal. I can see why it needs to be that way but im not sure it is excluding those that want to educate themselves regarding these species?

[vole-woman]

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/con...esurveying.pdf

Just found a bit more info on the detail here. I wonder if people who own these things for educational purposes need to apply for a licence, and what the involves? I'm going to contact Natural England and ask.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by vole-woman

Water voles are now fully protected under the wildlife and Countryside Act 1981


From the 6th April 2008 water voles became subject to increased legal protection and are now fully covered by the provisions of section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended).

Legal protection makes it an offence to:

• Intentionally kill, injure or take water voles
• Possess or control live or dead water voles or derivatives
• Intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to any structure or place used for shelter or protection
• Intentionally or recklessly disturb water voles whilst occupying a structure or place used for that purpose
• Sell water voles or offer or expose for sale or transport for sale
• Publish or cause to be published any advertisement which conveys the buying or selling of water voles.

Technically, Yes. It's the same with Badgers and you need a licence to own even a single hair for them. You might want to check with Natural England to check and see if this would apply to WVs too.
You're unlikely to be caught/prosecuted but it only takes one person to point the finger and drop you in it.

Cheers,

Adam

ps - just seen your last post. Bit slow today I'm afraid

[Dan Salter]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

Technically, Yes. It's the same with Badgers and you need a licence to own even a single hair for them. You might want to check with Natural England to check and see if this would apply to WVs too.
You're unlikely to be caught/prosecuted but it only takes one person to point the finger and drop you in it.

Cheers,

Adam

ps - just seen your last post. Bit slow today I'm afraid

So all you who traditionally shave with a shaving brush beware! haha

[mrs fish]

Originally Posted by vole-woman

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/con...esurveying.pdf

Just found a bit more info on the detail here. I wonder if people who own these things for educational purposes need to apply for a licence, and what the involves? I'm going to contact Natural England and ask.

Good luck with getting any answers from NE

We won't tell on you , promise

[Ukwildlifeo]

Woops I may have had a skull in my possesion for an hour or so but I gave it to the education centre at Rainham as I left so its them that would be in trouble now lol