In general, wildlife crime is any action which contravenes current legislation governing the protection of the UK’s wild animals and plants and includes:

• Hare Coursing
• Deer poaching
• Fish poaching
• Badger persecution – including baiting, snaring, shooting, and disturbance of setts
• Bat persecution
• Egg theft / collection
• Bird of Prey persecution – through poisoning, trapping, shooting, disturbance of nest and/or theft of chicks
• The trade in ivory, tortoises, rhino horn and other protected species covered by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) including caviar, Traditional Chinese Medicines, and orchids)
• Non registration of certain birds and animals that require licensing through DEFRA/Animal Health if kept in captivity or sold

And so, what IS NOT wildlife crime?

• Incidents involving domestic animals such as dogs (other than dogs being used to hunt mammals), cats, rabbits, budgies, etc
• Wild animals that have been involved in road traffic accidents

What Else?

• The SSPCA and the RSPCA also deal with wildlife crime and other animal welfare issues (such as dog fighting). They can be contacted 24 hours a day and may be able to attend an ongoing wildlife crime if police aren’t available to do so
• Crimestoppers can also be contacted in complete confidence on 0800 555 111