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Written question asked by Lord Blencathra (Conservative) on Wednesday, 18 May 2016, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 2 June 2016. It was answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Conservative) on Thursday, 26 May 2016 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Racoon Dogs

Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information they have collected on the number of racoon dogs in the UK; whether they have any plans to ban the ownership of racoon dogs outside licensed zoos; and what action they plan to take to exterminate any in the wild.

Answer

No data is collected on the number of raccoon dogs in the UK.

There are currently no plans to ban the ownership of this species inside or outside licensed zoos.

It is currently an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to release a raccoon dog, or allow one to escape, into the wild. If an animal were to escape it would first be the responsibility of the owner to recapture the animal. If, however, there was a threat that the species were to become established in the wild, action would be undertaken to capture and remove the animals in accordance with a draft rapid response protocol currently being prepared as part of the GB non-native species strategy.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL6
Session
2016-17
Subjects
Ownership Pest control Regulation Racoon dogs
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk