Who owns these birds?

[spandit]

Took the doggo for a walk and a swim in a local park (privately owned). In the lakes there were many ducks and geese. Now I'm not about to go and poach any but another dog worried some of them (mine is still just a pup but I'm sure it's a matter of time). I was wondering whether the fowl belonged to the park who could take action or seeing as they are capable of flying pretty much anywhere, and thus were wild, what the legal situation was?

[Dave-H]

They are classed as wild and belong to no-one.
Only wildlife this doesn't apply to is Gamebirds, which legally belong to whoever's property they are on [so a "wanderer" could be owned by a few different people during the course of a day] :rolleyes:
However............ it is an offence to allow a dog to worry any wildlife [except rabbits and rats with landowners permission] so you can still end up in court for cruelty/poaching [and other offences], exiting a few grand lighter and possibly dogless :(

Various laws cover this situation [Wildlife/Countryside Act, Hunting with Dogs Act, etc]