The Scottish Government has issued a report indicating that ‘alien’ or invasive species of animals and plants are costing Scotland £250 million a year.
The report by the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International says that controlling the spread of species such as grey squirrels by culling, early on, would reduce the financial cost associated with these animals.
The report – compiled for the Scottish Government, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Welsh Assembly – said the cost comes from loss of crops, damaged buildings, additional production costs and the loss of livelihoods and ecosystems.
Roseanna Cunningham, the Scottish Government Minister for Environment and Climate Change said: “This report highlights that once established, invasive non-native plants and animals can have a serious impact and that early intervention not only has a beneficial effect on the environment but also our finances.”
OneKind’s response to the report is that prevention is of course always better than trying to find a cure. We agree that some early intervention makes sense as long as it can be shown to be both necessary and justified. For example, we support the Scottish Government’s proposals in the new wildlife bill to prohibit future releases of non-native species.
But if that fails, it should not be automatically assumed that the next step is to start culling animals. Killing healthy wild animals that we deem to be in ‘the wrong place’ is unethical and inhumane. It is also unlikely to provide an effective long-term solution.
Habitat management, exclusion, deterrence and repellents, vaccination, contraception and relocation can all be effective non-lethal controls. Crucially, any control programme must include a full animal welfare impact assessment, highlighting the potential direct and indirect effects of the actions proposed and providing for regular review of welfare issues.
We oppose killing of healthy animals, but if killing is to be used, there must be a comparative welfare assessment of methods, as well as consideration of the timing and duration of the operation. For example, dependent young mammals will die of starvation and dehydration if their mothers are killed.
And of course there must come a point when a species has become so established that it should be accepted as part of our landscape – grey squirrels are a prime example - no amount of killing could ever eradicate them and they are here to stay. They were put there by humans in the first place and should not be persecuted as a consequence.
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