Worst neighbour?

[sez]

I think I have a winner on this one.

A week or so ago we found a dead bird on the lawn. On closer inspection it turned out to have been shot by some form of air gun / BB gun. Due to where it landed and having a big field behind our house we assumed it was one of the local teenagers messing about.

Last night I found another, further down the garden.

Today we showed the neighbour and he admitted doing it!

We're absolutely furious, especially given we're a household of 3 vegetarian pacifists. Killing birds senslessly like this is just.. ugh. There are no words.

[Nicos]

I'm sure there is some restriction in shooting on/over or near private property isn't there????

[mandyballantyne]

That is terrible!!

Can you not report him to the RSPB or even the police if he is shooting birds so close to your house garden? It could be treated as anti-social if not complety idiotic and dangerous to other animals/children etc

I too am veggi and pacifist but when I here things like that I might even use a gun..on him

Mandy

[Madasafish]

It is illegal to shoot over another property/land without the owner's permission. (and in some places the police take it seriously)...

[pigletwillie]

Its also illegal to shoot birds with the exception of vermin or game.

[muckdiva]

That's dreadful.... but in a world where some people find it entertaining to force little children to fight each other, not entirely surprising.

[LaurenGrows]

When the seagulls here have their young, about late June/July. That's when I wish I could shoot them. I have to exit my car/house under the shelter of an umbrella for fear of being *Dive Bombed*. My poor old dog (18yrs) cannot even go out for a pee without me waving an umbrella for his/my protection. I HATE them with a passion. There is NO peace from 4am for most of the day with their screaming and squawking. And not to mention the mess they deposit all over the place. If the damn holiday makers wouldn't feed them down in the town, then perhaps they wouldn't attack.
(Climbs off soap box)....Sigh

[yoanbob]

its illigal to shoot anything within 50 meters of a public highway, including footpaths, try pointing this out, if that doesnt help call the police.

[TPeers]

Given the chance of a stray shot hitting a family pet or worse a child - report him! It is quite amazing how far a bullet can travel, anyone in a range of ten or more gardens is at risk from this idiot.

By the way, what species of bird has the 'person' shot?

Are we talking garden song birds, magpies (which I might understand) pigeons....

[Paulottie]

Its also illegal to shoot birds with the exception of vermin or game.

I don't even think there are even many vermin birds you can shoot. Certainly game birds have seasons and none of them are shot in spring when they are rearing young.

Borrow the neighbours gun and -so you are not breaking any byelaws or shooting a beast- check it's unloaded then beat him with butt end of it...sorry your a pacifist.... put it in the vice and fashion a nice right angle in the barrel

[Paulottie]

[
Are we talking garden song birds, magpies (which I might understand) pigeons....[/QUOTE]

He doesn't sound sharp enough to shoot a magpie Terry, You need a Larson trap for them.

[TPeers]

[
Are we talking garden song birds, magpies (which I might understand) pigeons....

He doesn't sound sharp enough to shoot a magpie Terry, You need a Larson trap for them.[/quote]

Where ignorence is bliss.....

The only Larson I know is a cartoonist with a dodgey sence of humour.....

..... a Larson Trap is.....?

[Nicos]

try this...

www.fmft.net/archives/001675.html
lots of others there too I've not heard of either!!

Click on Larson trap in the text and a whole pile of stuff comes up

[Paulottie]

Thanks Nicos, not easy to explain that one.

[Geo]

You may not................................................
Kill or injure any bird or animal protected by law unless you are authorised to do so under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.

Protection of Birds

Most birds are completely protected by law. It is sometimes thought that those birds which are often called vermin can be killed at any time by anyone.

That is not so. Birds which are regarded as pests (magpies, sparrows, starlings, etc.) may only be killed by what the law calls an 'authorised person', that is the person who owns the land or who has permission to shoot pests.

A trespasser or a person who shoots at such a bird in a public place will commit offences against the Firearms Act for having a gun and also against the law on the protection of birds by killing, or even trying to kill, a wild bird when he is not an authorised person.


Anyone firing any weapon on or over a piece of land without the permission of the landowner is probably guilty of an offence, and should certainly be reported to the police

Geo..