legal murder

[woolybanana (ex tag)]

I thought that edible doormice or beech martins or loriots were protected in France. But the agricultural shops are stuffed with poison to kill them. What exactly is their status? Anyone know svp?

[chris pp]

This link will give you all the mammals that have full protection in France.

http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/WAspad/UnTexteDeJorf?numjo=DEVN0752752A

As you will see, Stone (Beech) Martens, Pine Martens, Loir and Lérot do not figure on it, but this does not mean that you can simply kill them using whatever means you choose, although you can legally place poison of the type that is on "open public sale" in your buildings you can not place it in open spaces or use "baited" meat, eggs etc.

In some Departments Stone Martens are classified as "nuisible" and you can enlist the services of a piégeur agrée who is authorised to trap and kill them, but in more and more Departments this is not the case.

It's all a bit complicated, but that's a start.

Chris