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Hi I am hoping for advice, any advice as for months now I have had to endure my neighbour shooting his airrifle out of his bedroom window at the squirrels. He has done it at all times of the day but most recently 7.30am. I have asked him to stop he says no, he says it is not dangerous but I am worried about my cat and finding an injured squirrel that I then have to deal with. I rang the police to start with an officer came and told me his dad shoots squirrels so yep not very sympathetic. I can't stand the noise it drives me mad. Help me!!!

The Animal Welfare Act 2006 rules that it is illegal to cause “unnecessary suffering” to an animal under your care. This includes animals caught in traps, like squirrels.
It is generally accepted that most people will be incapable of killing a squirrel without causing “unnecessary suffering” and will therefore be in breach of the law.

So i think the police ought to have been more sympathetic to your concerns although I have to say squirrels are a real pest in the garden.

Ask him to put a silencer on his rifle if the noise is driving you mad.

my thinking is that it is illegal to use airguns in any built up area such as residential, I may be wrong but it could be worth checking. good luck.

I remember reading a person was prosecuted for wounding a squirrel or squirrels. That is what you need to watch for and quoting the law above.

I don't think you can stop the air rifle unless you have proof that shots came over your land.

What harm do the squirrels do?

That prik needs to be shot himself cruel t*t!

How are squirrels pests? They are lovely little things.

They dig up bulbs, lawns,flowers and bury nuts all over the place which if not noticed grow into little, then big oak trees.Having said all that ,yes they are cute little @#@#@@

Squirrels can be a real pest and are classed as vermin. My mum had them in her loft and they ate through all the wiring causing her hundreds of pounds of damage. Her local authority recommended she buy traps as it's illegal to release them back into the wild. These American thugs are why our smaller red squirrels are a dying breed as ours can't compete for food. I'm not sure how shooting them causes undue suffering otherwise ALL kinds of hunting and fishing would be illegal. Surely leaving poison bait for rats is worse but no one complains as they don't have a fluffy tail. I would be against my neighbour shooting them more for the risk of a stray pellet hitting someone in the garden behind. Just my opinion.

""It is illegal to shoot an airgun on any land, including common land, river banks, public land, recreation areas or playing fields and land covered by water, i.e. lakes, ponds, canals and rivers where you do not have full permission from the lands owner or its tenant. It is also illegal to fire an airgun closer than 50 feet (15 metres) from the centre of a public highway, bridleway or footpath, if your shooting causes upset or inconvenience to those using the highway.""

http://www.airgunshooting.co.uk/expert-advice/airgun_law_in_the_uk_1_1111764

providing the pellet does not leave the perimeter of his land then he is ok to shoot on his own land.
squirrels are classed as vermin.
they are not all cuddly. I was bitten by one in ashton park! I had to go to arrowe park hospital for a tetanus.

Why does a squirrel swim on his back?

Too keep his nuts dry!!!!!!!

the easy answer to suit both parties in this is for him to get a silencer...Squirrels are vermin, although fluffy and amusing they can become a total nightmare if they get into attic spaces, a friends house caught fire after squirrels had chewed through wires in his loft

Its hard for us to visualize the directions and proximities that you're referring to ,or whether the area is an estate or country setting but if the location is built up and you feel a wild shot could possibly injure someone, Id go to my local Councillor and complain from that angle rather than the animal angle. Cant be doing your nerves any good hearing that scary sound at random and worrying where the pellets will land .
From a noise point of view - doubt youll get anywhere - there was a case in the paper of someone having a wind farm so close, that the whoosh whoosh noise of the workings drove them crazy, rendering one of their closest rooms totally unusable , yet nothing could be done.I really feel for you, Id be worried to death in that situation about letting my animals out .

whats got hazelnuts in every bite?

squirrel s**t!!

see you tomorrow rat.
got no phone - clair put it in the washing machine this morning!