Mammals
| Badgers | Bats | Deer | Whale, Dolphin, Porpoise | Seals |
For specially protected mammals it is an offence to:
- kill or injure the animal;
- capture or keep [alive or dead] the animal;
- destroy, damage or obstruct access to its place of shelter;
- disturb the animal while using its place of shelter;
- sell or advertise for sale the animal or anything derived from it.
In addition ALL wild mammals have protection under the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 against cruel acts (listed as mutilation, kicking, beating, impaling, stabbing, burning, stoning, crushing, drowning, dragging or asphyxiation). The Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 prohibits the use of dogs to hunt any wild mammal, with exceptions. The more general laws controlling when, where and how one can hunt and shoot are also very relevant to mammals.
The possession of a specially protected mammal, or anything derived from it, is an offence so, if one comes into your possession by lawful means, inheriting a stuffed animal for instance, then you should ensure that you keep convincing evidence of the circumstances.