Latest news with #GSPCA
BBC News
15-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Elvis the stowaway squirrel in Guernsey thought captured or dead
An animal charity has said it is "highly likely that something has happened" to a squirrel thought to have arrived in Guernsey via a vehicle in Byrne, manager of the Guernsey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA), said he thought it likely the animal, dubbed Elvis, had been captured or March the States of Guernsey had tried to trap the invasive non-native mammal but this week said it "couldn't justify the use of taxpayers' money to continue looking for our stowaway visitor".Mr Byrne asked anyone with any information about the squirrel to share it with the GSPCA. 'Very few predators' The States Veterinary Officers said they were "not actively seeking to catch the squirrel".The Sarnian squirrel, colloquially named Elvis, was first spotted near Bluchip in St Sampsons on 24 Byrne said there had been a number of sightings near and around Delancy Park between the areas of St Peter Port and St Sampsons until early said: "We have very few predators in Guernsey that would kill or eat a squirrel other than birds of prey, certain pets or human beings - whether accidental or intentional - which we hope hasn't happened."We continue to appeal for sightings of Elvis, but with the months of no reports it is highly likely that something has happened to the Sarnian squirrel from being captured to sadly no longer alive."
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Calls to make drivers report hitting a cat law
More than 550 people have signed a petition calling to make it a legal requirement to report hitting a cat with a car. Currently, drivers only have to report hitting dogs, horses, cows, asses, mules, sheep, pigs or goats. Dr Nichola Lloyd, who lost two cats after being hit by cars, said it was "completely bonkers" that collisions with cats did not need to be reported. Jersey became the first place in the British Isles to make it law to report a collision with a cat, carrying a fine of £10,000. Dr Lloyd lost her cat Freddie in 2024 after he was hit by a vehicle outside her home. "It was awful, we'd only had Freddie around a year. We'd just got married about two weeks before and we were settling into a new house. "I wasn't lucky enough to have children so my cats are my children, it was like losing a member of the family. I still really miss him." Dr Lloyd has joined in the calls to update the law to make reporting a collision with a cat a legal responsibility. "I was looking up and a cat doesn't come under the definition of an animal under the Road Traffic [Ordinance]," she said. "You've got to stop for a lot of things, I appreciate that cats being cats are possibly more likely to be run over than other animals, but that doesn't make them any less an animal." More news stories for Guernsey Listen to the latest news for Guernsey Steve Byrne, manager at animal charity GSPCA, said volunteers saw around 200 - 300 incidents of cats being run over every year. "If they aren't reported quickly then obviously you've got a potentially suffering animal in the road and you'll have a very worried owner not knowing where the animal is," he said Mr Byrne said one of the challenges the charity faces is reuniting injured and dead cats with their owner. "Sadly, only about 80% of cats are microchipped so there is a good portion of these cats that sometimes you've got no identification to try and find the owner. Kayleigh Mills started an online petition after she witnessed a cat get hit by a car on her road in St Peter Port. "There are constantly posts on social media saying, 'my cat has been hit in this road, my cat's been hit in that road', and I just think that it is about time people reported it," she said. "If you hit a horse or a pig or a goat, you have to report it, but for cats it doesn't feel like a priority." Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Drivers urged to 'have a heart' and obey cat law GSPCA
BBC News
12-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Calls to make drivers report hitting a cat law in Guernsey
More than 550 people have signed a petition calling to make it a legal requirement to report hitting a cat with a drivers in Guernsey only have to report hitting dogs, horses, cows, asses, mules, sheep, pigs or Nichola Lloyd, who lost two cats after being hit by cars, said it was "completely bonkers" that collisions with cats did not need to be reported. Jersey became the first place in the British Isles to make it law to report a collision with a cat, carrying a fine of £10,000. 'I still miss him' Dr Lloyd lost her cat Freddie in 2024 after he was hit by a vehicle outside her home."It was awful, we'd only had Freddie around a year. We'd just got married about two weeks before and we were settling into a new house."I wasn't lucky enough to have children so my cats are my children, it was like losing a member of the family. I still really miss him."Dr Lloyd has joined in the calls to update the law to make reporting a collision with a cat a legal responsibility."I was looking up and a cat doesn't come under the definition of an animal under the Road Traffic [Ordinance]," she said."You've got to stop for a lot of things, I appreciate that cats being cats are possibly more likely to be run over than other animals, but that doesn't make them any less an animal." Steve Byrne, manager at animal charity GSPCA, said volunteers saw around 200 - 300 incidents of cats being run over every year."If they aren't reported quickly then obviously you've got a potentially suffering animal in the road and you'll have a very worried owner not knowing where the animal is," he saidMr Byrne said one of the challenges the charity faces is reuniting injured and dead cats with their owner."Sadly, only about 80% of cats are microchipped so there is a good portion of these cats that sometimes you've got no identification to try and find the owner. Kayleigh Mills started an online petition after she witnessed a cat get hit by a car on her road in St Peter Port."There are constantly posts on social media saying, 'my cat has been hit in this road, my cat's been hit in that road', and I just think that it is about time people reported it," she said."If you hit a horse or a pig or a goat, you have to report it, but for cats it doesn't feel like a priority."
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hedge-trimming islanders urged to protect wildlife
Islanders with roadside hedges on their properties have been urged to protect wildlife when cutting them back. Landlords and tenants have until 15 June to trim hedges bordering public roads under Guernsey law, so they do not block road signs, traffic lights and visibility for drivers. The States said cutting a hedge "too severely and frequently" could have a detrimental effect on the vegetation and the wildlife it supports. Agriculture, Countryside and Land Management Services said people should check for "nesting birds or other wildlife" and use secateurs for "minimal cutting" around nests if they find them. More news stories for Guernsey Listen to the latest news for Guernsey It said internal hedges should be left until after bird breeding season between March and July to cut. Guernsey law requires roadside verges to be cut between 1 and 15 June and then again between 15 and 30 September each year to remove overhanging vegetation. However, people with "rare or uncommon plants" in their earth banks and hedges should avoid cutting them until September if possible, said officials. Officials said: "Guernsey's beautiful landscape is defined by its distinctive roadside hedge banks which form an important part of our island's heritage. "They form living threads which run through and connect the parishes and can be a haven for both plants and animals, adding much to the island's natural living diversity." Anyone finding injured wildlife should contact the GSPCA, the organisation said. Traffic and Highways said people should make sure cuttings are cleared away immediately to avoid the need to clear blocked drains. Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Hedge cutting 'should be friendly to wildlife' Charity appeals for sites to plant native trees States of Guernsey: Hedge Cutting Traffic and Highways
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hedge-trimming islanders urged to protect wildlife
Islanders with roadside hedges on their properties have been urged to protect wildlife when cutting them back. Landlords and tenants have until 15 June to trim hedges bordering public roads under Guernsey law, so they do not block road signs, traffic lights and visibility for drivers. The States said cutting a hedge "too severely and frequently" could have a detrimental effect on the vegetation and the wildlife it supports. Agriculture, Countryside and Land Management Services said people should check for "nesting birds or other wildlife" and use secateurs for "minimal cutting" around nests if they find them. More news stories for Guernsey Listen to the latest news for Guernsey It said internal hedges should be left until after bird breeding season between March and July to cut. Guernsey law requires roadside verges to be cut between 1 and 15 June and then again between 15 and 30 September each year to remove overhanging vegetation. However, people with "rare or uncommon plants" in their earth banks and hedges should avoid cutting them until September if possible, said officials. Officials said: "Guernsey's beautiful landscape is defined by its distinctive roadside hedge banks which form an important part of our island's heritage. "They form living threads which run through and connect the parishes and can be a haven for both plants and animals, adding much to the island's natural living diversity." Anyone finding injured wildlife should contact the GSPCA, the organisation said. Traffic and Highways said people should make sure cuttings are cleared away immediately to avoid the need to clear blocked drains. Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Hedge cutting 'should be friendly to wildlife' Charity appeals for sites to plant native trees States of Guernsey: Hedge Cutting Traffic and Highways
