伤害野生动物植物

Is it illegal to harm wildlife and wild plants in the UK?
Yes, it is illegal.

In the UK, it is illegal to harm wildlife animals and certain wild plants, such as wild birds, wild squirrels, wild rabbits, wildcats, wild dogs, and wildflowers.

The penalties for these illegal actions include:

1. Unlimited fines

2. Up to 6 months of imprisonment or both.

 

The Wildlife and Countryside Act was enacted in the UK in 1981. This act serves as the primary legislation for protecting animals, plants, and habitats in the country. For more detailed information about this law, you can visit the official website at the following link:

：https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/wildlife-and-the-law/wildlife-and-countryside-act/

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is primarily responsible for enforcing the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Note 1: Harming wildlife includes affecting their natural habitat. Even if wild birds nest on any structures within your home, including trees in your yard, those wild birds are protected. It is illegal to disturb or remove their nests, harm the birds, attempt to drive away the birds from the nest without destroying it, keep them in captivity, sell such wild birds, retain the bird's carcass without a reasonable explanation, or set up any devices intended to capture wild animals.

Note 2: It is not illegal to cause harm to animals resulting from fights between them, provided that you have not engaged in any intentional acts to harm these wild animals. This means that you have not trained or deliberately used your domesticated pets to harm wild animals.

Note 3: "Unlimited fine" means that there is no upper limit to the amount of the fine. Furthermore, it's not just about the fine itself, but depending on the circumstances, the offender may also face additional penalties, including imprisonment, in addition to the fine.

Therefore, it is advisable not to indiscriminately disturb or harm wild animals, or engage in unauthorized picking of wild plants. In certain areas of the UK, designated as protected areas, all plants within these areas are protected. Additionally, if you are buying a property in the UK or planning to do so, it is recommended to avoid purchasing a property with bird nests. If you notice any signs of birds intending to nest on your building or trees within your yard, it is important to take preventive measures and intervene promptly. Once birds have successfully built their nests, it can lead to numerous complications. It is prohibited to harm or disturb bird nests and wild birds, which can make house renovations and selling the property very challenging. In summary, it can cause various difficulties, consuming significant time, energy, and expenses.