I suspect more likely to be anti-hunting vets looking for an extension of legislation to prevent fox shooting.
The letter completely disregarded the effects on any other species. Typical.
Vets urging the govement to study the decline of foxes since hunting ban
- Thread starter T.eddie
- Start date
The letter completely disregarded the effects on any other species. Typical.
can you copy it?
You want me to breach copyright laws?
Ah go on go on go on.
If I'm going to veer into criminality, there are more entertaining ways to do it, and I really can't see why I should do it merely because you're too lazy to subscribe for free.
It's not laziness, it's an active decison not to support a publication whose politics I don't like. Shame as I like the crossword and the sport reporting!
And we wonder how society became so stupid and polarised.
From another source (a public library) the letter has been written to DEFRA by a member of a pro-fox hunting vet group, it's apparently been signed by 100 vets but there's no record of who they are. However, they would appear to have a point that the population might have declined, this from the mammal survey:
Harris et al. (1995) estimated a British population of 240,000, but methodological differences make direct comparisons with the current review difficult.
Between 1995 and 2009, no significant change in relative abundance was detected by the National Gamebag Census, whilst a small but significant increase was reported in the
BTO Breeding Bird Survey (BBS). The most recent BBS report indicates a 34% decline (95% CI = 44%-23%) between 1996 and 2014.
Harris et al. (1995) estimated a British population of 240,000, but methodological differences make direct comparisons with the current review difficult.
Between 1995 and 2009, no significant change in relative abundance was detected by the National Gamebag Census, whilst a small but significant increase was reported in the
BTO Breeding Bird Survey (BBS). The most recent BBS report indicates a 34% decline (95% CI = 44%-23%) between 1996 and 2014.
countrryboy
Well-Known Member
I would love to see the methodology of how they counted fox numbers both historically and now.
If they're now using NV or thermal to count foxes it would mean any previous counts/data are not comparable.
I'd be amazed if fox numbers are falling, as has been touched on even the victoriana keepers never managed to wipe them out and they would have large keepering teams purely on vermin control and using the tin/bottle and wires + ginn traps widely over the whole estate.
I mind reading an old keepering book and he talked about semi burying a dead fox in a ploughed field, ar@e sticking up and surround in with ginn/fen traps. Reckoned u always get atleast 1 fox coming to investigate, possibly where the saying about shoot 1 2 come to funeral.
Traps wires and poison would be working 24/7 too
Plus in that era most ground would be owned by large landowners/estates so managed with no refuges the way it is now.
In some grouse areas some keepers still rarely see a fox
While I have no doubt it is easier now with modern advances in technology to shoot foxes, they're will also be a lot of ground not managed
Is there any mention of badgers in the study/letter?
The massive increase and spread of badgers must be having an impact on numbers.
Eat similar diet, even broc taking over old fox dens.
A lot of places less rabbits, even the rise in buzzard or red kite numbers could have an impact. They eat a lot of rabbits, carrion and even worms all stuff a fox would eat.
To be honest being as hard on foxes in areas with high broc numbers is almost a complete waste of time.
10 or 20 brocs trooping out of the same holes every night hunting all the hedge rows for ground nesting birds will do more damage than a few foxes ever would.
Yet never allowed to mention the damage they cause
If they're now using NV or thermal to count foxes it would mean any previous counts/data are not comparable.
I'd be amazed if fox numbers are falling, as has been touched on even the victoriana keepers never managed to wipe them out and they would have large keepering teams purely on vermin control and using the tin/bottle and wires + ginn traps widely over the whole estate.
I mind reading an old keepering book and he talked about semi burying a dead fox in a ploughed field, ar@e sticking up and surround in with ginn/fen traps. Reckoned u always get atleast 1 fox coming to investigate, possibly where the saying about shoot 1 2 come to funeral.
Traps wires and poison would be working 24/7 too
Plus in that era most ground would be owned by large landowners/estates so managed with no refuges the way it is now.
In some grouse areas some keepers still rarely see a fox
While I have no doubt it is easier now with modern advances in technology to shoot foxes, they're will also be a lot of ground not managed
Is there any mention of badgers in the study/letter?
The massive increase and spread of badgers must be having an impact on numbers.
Eat similar diet, even broc taking over old fox dens.
A lot of places less rabbits, even the rise in buzzard or red kite numbers could have an impact. They eat a lot of rabbits, carrion and even worms all stuff a fox would eat.
To be honest being as hard on foxes in areas with high broc numbers is almost a complete waste of time.
10 or 20 brocs trooping out of the same holes every night hunting all the hedge rows for ground nesting birds will do more damage than a few foxes ever would.
Yet never allowed to mention the damage they cause
I find this very hard to believe, there is no shortage or noticeable decline in foxes in any areas that I know of.
I also find it very hard to understand how Vets, who clearly have an understanding of compassion in animal welfare and knowledge of the way animals live and die, can support fox hunting. Sorry if that doesn’t sit well with some members of this group.
I also find it very hard to understand how Vets, who clearly have an understanding of compassion in animal welfare and knowledge of the way animals live and die, can support fox hunting. Sorry if that doesn’t sit well with some members of this group.
countrryboy
Well-Known Member
Say wot u like about hunting but 1 simple undeniable fact is hounds don't injure foxes.
It either gets away with a good bit of exercise or it doesn't.
With any shot there is always the chance of wounding 1 esp at night.
If more foxes are being shot at night then there is a higher chance of more being wounded.
Bit of a decline last night.
