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Guernsey changes wood pigeon law
pigeon
Wood pigeon is no longer classed as a pest under Guernsey hunting laws

Game bird shooters in Guernsey are being warned by police that they may be unknowingly breaking animal welfare laws if they shoot wood pigeons because of changes in legislation, the BBC reports.

A limited number of animals and birds can be hunted as game in Guernsey, including wild rabbit, the common pheasant, grey or English partridge, red-legged or French partridge, Eurasian woodcock, and the common snipe.

The State of Guernsey Guidance Document provides information on who can hunt, the places where animals can be hunted, the methods of hunting that can be used and, in certain cases the times of the year when game animals can be hunted (there is a close season for some species). Hunting with dogs and ferrets is permitted and nets and cage traps can be used. All other traps and snares are prohibited.

Wood pigeon is now defined as game and not as a pest under recent amendments. This means that it is illegal to shoot them on public land between October until the end of January.

Also added to the guidance document are greylag goose and hybrid mallard duck. They can be killed by either air rifle or shotgun on private land only, but shooters need relevant permits.

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

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News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.