§ Mr. Roger WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations and discussions she has had regarding the protection of wild mammals in urban areas. [82422]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 25 November 2002]The Department has not received representations about the general protection of wild urban animals, including urban species, which occur in urban areas on a regular basis. However, we have recently received a number of representations about a licence granted under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 for the purpose of preventing damage to property in East Sussex.
Species are protected by a number of pieces of legislation. The Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 protects all mammals from indiscriminate methods of killing or taking. In addition certain species, including all birds, are protected from intentional killing by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Badgers, which can occur in urban and suburban areas, are protected by the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.
§ Mr. Roger WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the number of wild mammals in urban areas by species. [82423]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 25 November 2002]At present there is no comprehensive, standardised national monitoring of British mammals that embraces the full range of important species. However, this is being addressed by a GB-wide research contract. "Design and pilot a multi-species terrestrial mammal monitoring project". The overall aim will be to design and pilot, using a volunteer network, a winter monitoring project involving both visual recording of mammals and recording their signs. It is intended to form a building block for an integrated mammal-monitoring system.
In addition Defra has sponsored research into fox populations (report issued in 1997), which estimated the UK urban fox population at 33,000 and an assessment of the level of mice and rats in domestic properties. The results from the last survey, undertaken in 1996, showed that 1.8 per cent, of properties had house mice; 1.7 per cent, of properties had rats outside; 0.4 per cent, of properties had rats inside.
The latest survey was conducted in 2001 and the data from this will be examined shortly. However, due to the vast amount of data collected results are not anticipated until late 2003.
In addition to research carried out by Government, the Mammal Society also runs national surveys looking at the population and distribution of mammal species through the UK and is currently running a "Mammals in Your Garden?" Survey. This survey is looking at the number and variety of mammals seen in gardens. This survey will be annual and will give information about urban mammal populations; the results from the first year should be available early next year.