Police on the Isle of Wight are making enquiries to locate a male who climbed over a barbed wire gate on Brading Marshes before then allowing his dog to disturb a number of birds’ nests.
Hampshire Constabulary say that they are investigating after receiving a report of a man trespassing within a secure area at RSPB Brading Marshes nature reserve on the evening of Friday 6th May. It’s reported that the man was accompanied by a dog off a lead, and the dog was disturbing nesting birds within the swamp habitat.
It’s said that the male was challenged by an RSPB volunteer, but that he simply responded to say he will do what he likes.
Now, Polie are urging members of the public to take extra care and caution when visiting open spaces and nature reserves on the Isle of Wight to ensure the protection of wildlife and nesting birds.
A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary has said:
“This attitude is incredibly disappointing and poses a threat to our wildlife. This report has been passed to local officers who will be looking into the circumstances.
“We have a close community of wildlife lovers on the Isle of Wight, and we ask everyone to please be responsible and to familiarise themselves with the law.
“Please respect the law and respect our wildlife. If you are visiting a reserve with nesting birds present, please keep dogs on leads, stick to public footpaths and keep out of restricted areas.
Article continues below this advertisement “If you witness any behaviour that puts wildlife at risk, you can report this to police on 101 and our dedicated Country Watch team will look into the circumstances”.
What does the law say?
All birds, their nests and eggs are protected by law under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb any wild bird listed on Schedule 1 while it is nest building, or at a nest containing eggs or young, or to disturb the dependent young of such a bird. Regardless of your intentions, if your actions are reckless then you are in breach of the law.
Details of Schedule 1 birds, and the other schedules relating to the treatment and protection of wild birds can be found at https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/wildlife-and-the-law/wildlife-and-countryside-act/schedules/.
Under the act, it is also illegal to intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird, or intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built.
There are further clauses to the legislation that Police encourage the public to mindful of – https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/wildlife-and-the-law/wildlife-and-countryside-act/#:~:text=All%20birds%2C%20their%20nests%20and,in%20use%20or%20being%20built.
Contravention of the law could result in prosecution with a penalty of up to 6 months imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both.
What an utter moron.
Sounds like the average dog walker.
Entitled, arrogant, and abusive when called out.
The average dog walker?? You must mix with the wrong people.
If you leave out dog walker and wrote average person, you could be right lol.
Try putting brain into gear before making stupid comments like yours.
Do as your user name, and get one.
Just proved the point with another worthless comment.
Deserves a massive fine. There are so many nice places to walk dogs over here, absolutely no excuses for disturbing the small number of nature reserves.
The same sort of person who brings their dog /s down to Ryde beach to mess in the prohibited area early in the morning when they know no enforcement officers are around or allows their animal to mess on the pavements and does not clean the mess up but leaves it for others to tread in.
Typical selfish attitude from a lot of people these days, no respect for anything or anyone. Unfortunately they seem to get away with it, for them rules are there to be broken.
Ban dogs.
Dogs are a menace to our society
Ban humans.
Humans are a menace to planet earth.
then who would feed your dogs…
And a lot of society are menace to dogs.
I feel so sad for dogs who have people like that to “care” for them. No respect for their animal, or animals in general., no love in their soul, no respect for Karma, until it bites them on the ar*e.
It’s not the dogs who are a menace Jim, it’s the bloody owners.
So are numbnuts like you making this stupid comments like this.
More so the owners, see my comment above, we live in a private lane, it is used as a dog walking access point even though there is a clearly signed public footpath not 40 feet away, we have cars parked in our drive, mess in our garden, and when told of their ‘mistake’ and to kindly use the public path, we get all kinds of verbal abuse, as previously stated, the average dog walker is a damn nuisance!
Fair play, I understand your anger, but I doubt it was the dogs who told their owners to park there.
Thank God a person after my own heart ❤️
Apparently this dick was approached by an RSPB volunteer and was asked to put his dog on a lead. He refused and said I’ll do what I like’
Ignorant to say the least. I hope this idiot is identified. People cannot think they can do exactly what they want and to hell with the law.
the RSPB volunteer should have done what they like and smacked him in the mouth
I know all people are not the same, but I have in the past politely approached persons with a dog off a lead at a beach where no dogs were permitted, the dog owner replied ‘ F…off mind my own business, piss off..!’ This has happened a few times… never has a dog owner replied nicely, with manners. Some NT beach areas do not allow dogs any time of the year, yet people still take their dogs along , without dog on lead… these NT beach areas are parts of nature reserves.. sadly no dog wardens and no one stopped and fined… before you type lots of nasty stuff, read my first line again !
Probably a total snob who thinks they own everything and pick up after your dog please shi- everywhere
All the anger from triggerd dog owner/walkers in the comments isn’t surprising.
Youre probly the ones that cause trouble, let your dogs worry sheep, crap everywhere and dont pick up, let it yap all night long, and when it’s running wild off the lead jumps on another person, hes only playing.
If you dislike this comment, you are as described.
Yes total ignorance from dog walkers stupid long leads and most don’t clean up look a Firestone shi- everywhere