Ratty's Law

The news that the Wildlife and Countryside Act is finally going to give full legal protection to the Water vole (Arvicola terrestris) rather than simply protecting its habitat (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/mar/31/endangeredspecies.endangeredhabitats) is most welcome. Anyone who kills, injures or simply disturbs the UK's most endangered Mammal will be liable to a fine of up to £5000 or up to 6 months imprisonment. This is needed as people have used poison indiscriminantly against 'vermin' and have even shot them with air rifles (beebee guns). The animal is already highly threatened by habitat loss and the deprecations of the American mink ('liberated' from fur farms). The Water vole will enjoy its new protected status along with the edible Roman snail, the Angel shark, the Spiny seahorse and the Short-snouted seahorse.