Concerned with wildlife health and welfare

 

I have been told, again, that I seem to be very concerned with wildlife health welfare.

😐

Of course I am. I am not a member of the Green Party so I do care about the environmental and wildlife crisis that is currently taking place. Next year will be my official 50th (I don't count when I was learning as a child) year as a naturalist, researcher/archivist. I have read many thousands of news and items and journals going back to the 17th century, hundreds of books going back to the 16th century and that learning continues.

We saw what one might call The First Modern Mass Extinction during the early Medieval period up to the 1500s. Bears, lynx, wolves, boar and many other species (land and air) wiped out by humans. By the start of the 17th Century much wildlife was imported from Europe to replace "beasts of the chace" for hunting 'fun'  -the bigger mammals were no longer around to kill and so the Old wild cat and Old fox species were put on the list.

By the mid 1830s it was apparent, and written about frequently, that the Old fox was heading for extinction and there was much discussion. But discussion not about saving the species but about what would happen "to our sport". Yep, if foxes went extinct then there was nothing else to hunt and kill. Hares died out in many areas due top hare hunting as did otters and many others including deer.

From the early (possible) 16th century on the importing of animals to hunt increased but that meant constant "re-stocking" and Leadenhall Market imported at least 2000 foxes a year to hunt and the actual number with the number of importers in England must have exceeded 3-5000 per year. 

However, the 1860s can be seen as the Second Modern Mass Extinction with Old Fox and Wild cats, red squirrels and others falling into the gaping hole. More Red squirrels imported and yet shooting clubs were still noting with pride the hundreds of squirrels their members were killing. I doubt that a genuine British Red squirrel exists today. When importing stopped due to World War 1 and then anti rabies legislation wildlife took a downturn and never -despite the many false claims- recovered.

Foxes are still shot for 'fun' nightly which means those 'sportsmen' (it is what they call themselves) are actually helping drive foxes to extinction as we are calculated to have already lost 65-70% of the fox population.

We lose badgers every year to cars and 99% of drivers do not even report hitting an animal whether fox, badger or even a deer (hopefully the damage caused hitting the latter ran into the hundreds in repair work on the precious car).

There are people who will kill or try to kill pet dogs and cats as well as abuse horses and cattle. "A Nation of animal lovers".

We have seen the increased decline in hedgehog numbers and there is little doubt that the 2030s will see the Third Modern Mass Extinction with many mammals and birds, etc joining the fox, badger and hedgehog.

Treating wildlife for injuries in the wild for minor injuries and ailments is beneficial in that there is no stress on them from being trapped, caged and then held for a period of time where the treatment can take longer to work.  But wildlife vets and rescues need to step out of the dark ages and into modern times.

A fox does not depend solely on eyesight to survive as hearing and smell are the main senses. Blind in one eye "It can't survive in the wild -kill it. A badger that a wildlife hospital felt was blind had survived a long time until an unblocked drop point in the ground meant it got trapped. Again, badgers do not solely rely on eyesight but the vet declared it could not live in the wild and no wildlife rescue was asked whether they could take it on so -kill it.

I often wonder whether these people "cast the bones" before making their decisions. They certainly do not listen to people who deal with foxes and badgers daily.

A leg injury in a fox "It cannot survive in the wild -kill it".  I even wrote a piece about how well three legged foxes survive and at least two such vixens have had a couple of litters with no problem. https://foxwildcatwolverineproject.blogspot.com/2024/08/fox-leg-amputation-reason-to-kill.html

A facial injury: "Can't be treated -kill it" BUT why kill the fox?  With severe infection and necrosis I can understand and the smell and black skin will tell you when it is too far gone. One vixen with cubs had a facial injury and talk was of trapping which would mean killing it or "euthanising" it. It was decided to start treatment and give it a set period to note any success and that way it could still feed its young cubs. The facial injury healed and the vixen is still alive.

Mange is NOT a death sentence that destroys organs and leads to a nasty death. It just needs treating as soon as possible and in the last three years over 600 local foxes have been successfully treated (previously the local wildlife rescue had any fox with what someone decided was "35% mange" put down. The new regime there is treatment (under veterinary advice) and that has saved 600 foxes rather than wipe them out.

This item may be of interest: 

https://foxwildcatwolverineproject.blogspot.com/2024/08/treating-infections-facial-injuries-and.html

The answer to the statement  "you seem to be very concerned with wildlife health welfare" is "Yes, I bloody well am and so should you be now get off your ass and help!"

What The Experts Said.... And Then Started Chickening Out!

(c)2025 BF&WCS

Now I am not going to mention names or the institutions, however, everything is documented and my colleague LM has been privy to the responses.

For The Red Paper 2022 Canids I had a number of photographs of "fox masks" (masks being the trophy head of a fox killed in a hunt and with starving hounds it is usually all that gets left) on shields (wood plaques with dates and locations of the kill. Some were quite obviously not foxes -there were jackal like heads and the most obviously odd were those that were clearly coyote or wolf like.

That I believed that these were jackal, coyote or wolf does not matter. What I needed to get was confirmation from experts who knew these canids. I learnt from my first attempts to get jackal heads identified that as soon as you stated "Killed by a hunt in England" things went very quiet. So what I asked people who are experts and deal with wolves and coyotes on an almost daily basis is whether they could confirm that the masks were coyote or wolf -no deception just asking for their professional opinion.

I got all of the masks confirmed as wolf or coyote and one possible Eastern Coyote. One mask I was told looked coyote like...but slightly fox like and was "odd". That mask was sent by accident and was a jackal head so it would seem odd to them.

I had all the confirmation I needed from 4-5 experts  at well known institutions. When asked where the masks came from I explained and as soon as I stated England... back pedalling was so fast, confused and even contradicting their own statements!  I did offer full information and even sent copies of the mask shields with the details on them but no one was talking any more -although one brave soul DID stand by his identification.

Why the sudden reversal and denial of their own opinions? It was explained to me by someone who would know that it was probably out of fear of rocking the academic boat. They don't want to upset their colleagues in the UK over this as it might have those colleagues responding angrily or making cooperation difficult and a lot of people from different universities cooperate on papers.

That is highly believable. Their statements are on the record so why cause problems -maybe one day they will come around or even accept a copy of The Red Paper Canids as offered?

My policy is still to ask other experts for confirmation of an animal and I have always done that via museums, etc.. It is just a pity that academia is so butt clenching when it faces up to dogma or things their colleagues have just never bothered looking into.

If You Have A Question...

  I am quite sure that there must be some people reading this blog who have questions. Ask them because if I can't answer them I doubt anyone can (49 years of experience, research)

Pennant on Foxes in 1771

 

The painting depicts "A Fox Stalking a Brace of Partridges" by Jean-Baptiste Oudry, a renowned 18th-century French Rococo painter celebrated for his animal depictions  Note the lack of muzzle black "tear stain","black socks" and other red fox diagnostics which would make this a good historical depiction of an Old European fox type.

Pennants British Zoology 1771  p 74

 This animal is common in all parts of Great Britain, and so well known as to not require a description….

P 75

 

There are three varieties of foxes found in the mountainous parts of these islands, which differ a little in form, but not in colour, from each other. These are distinguished in Wales, by as many different names. The Milgi or gre-hound fox, is the largest, tallest, and boldest; and will attack a grown sheep or wether (castrated male sheep)  : the mastiff fox is less (smaller), but more strongly built : the Corgi, or cur fox, is lest (smaller), and lurks about hedges, out houses, and so on and is the most pernicious of the three to the feathered tribe. The first of these varieties has a white tag or tip to the tail : the last a black. The number of these animals would soon become intolerable, if they were not proscribed, having a certain reward set on their heads.

P 74

In warm weather it will quit its habitation for the sake of basking in the sun, or to enjoy the fresh air ; but then it rarely lies exposed, but chooses some thick brake (hedge), and generally of gorse, that it may rest secure from surprise. Crows, magpies, and other birds, whoi consider the fox as their common enemy, will often, by their notes of anger, point out its retreat.

Pp 71-72

The fox is a crafty, lively, and libidinous animal : it breeds only once in a year (except some accident befalls its first litter ;) and brings four or five young, which, like puppies are born blind. It is common received opinion, that this animal will produce with the dog kind.

P 72 -73

The fox sleeps much in the day, but is in motion the whole night in search of prey. It will feed on flesh of any kind, but irs favourite food is lambs, rabbits, hares, poultry, and feathered game.  It will, when urged by hunger, eat carrots and insects ; and those that live near the sea coasts, will, for want of other food, eat crabs, shrimps, or shell fish….

In France and Italy, it does incredible damage in vineyards, by feeding on the grapes, of which it is very fond.  Thje fox is a great destroyer of rats, and field mice ; and like the cat, will play with them a considerable time, before it puts them to death.

P 73

When the fox has acquired a larger prey than it can devour at once,  it never begins to feed til it has secured the rest, which it does with great address. It digs holes in different places, returns to the spot where it had left the booty ; and (supposing a whole flock of poultry  to have been its prey) will bring them one by one, and thrust them in with its nose, and then conceal them by ramming the loose earth on them, till the calls of hunger incite him to pay them another visit.

P 73

 

Of all animals the fox has the most significant eye, by which it expresses every passion of love, fear, hatred, and so on.  It is remarkably playful, but like all other savage creatures half reclaimed,  will on the least offence bite those it is most familiar with.

 

It is a great admirer of its bushy tail, with which it frequently amuses and exercises itself by running in circles to catch it : and in cold weather wraps it round its nose.

Even In The 1970s Protecting and Conserving Foxes Was Called For

It has been said that all we know today about the greyhound/mountain fox is down to my research work but I think that is taking too much credit. My colleague, LM, has not only found and purchased Old fox taxidermy including the famous Colquhoun mountain fox killed circa 1835 but others.  LM has also drawn my attention to other snippets and it was LM who pointed out this children's book from the 1970s (which I find that I actually have but have not read in many years).

Not just the fox on the cover grabbed LM's attention but also a paragraph within. Therefore LM deserves credit for pointing this all out.

The book was written by John Leigh-Pemberton.  This cover was painted by John Leigh-Pemberton and were that muzzle black "tear stain" missing it would be an Old type British fox. In fact, I do wonder whether he based this on an old taxidermy he had seen as it would be right for a mid-1840s Old-New hybrid.

Note that the book was published in 1972 which is important. Now read what he had to say regarding badgers and specifically about foxes.

Who was  John Leigh-Pemberton?

Leigh-Pemberton was the great-grandson of Edward Leigh Pemberton. He was born on 18th  October 1911 and was educated at Eton; he studied art in London between 1928 and 1932. During the Second World War he was a flying instructor for the RAF and was awarded the Air Force Cross in 1945. As well as his book illustrations, Leigh-Pemberton carried out advertising work and decorated a number of ships.^[ He also did work for the Shell Guides series. However perhaps his best-known work was carried out for the Ladybird series of books for children, where he wrote and illustrated many of the series dealing with natural history subjects.

All of which means that he would have had the education and background of any gentleman of that period. He would have also been, as proven by his work, a "gentleman naturalist" and moved in the right circles to know what was going on -hunting was something the gentlemen as well as game keepers talked about and that information would build up a fairly accurate picture. 

We know that even pro hunt naturalist authors realised by the early 1960s that hunts were "fixing the numbers" of foxes to justify hunting in an increasingly anti-hunt society (even depicted in popular British films as cruel and unnecessary).  However, the depiction of only "toffs" going out to kill foxes was inaccurate and still is.

If  Leigh-Pemberton had realised in 1972 that foxes were on the decline it confirms what my own research found in the 1980s. Foxes were becoming scarcer and only a few rather brave gentlemen were willing to make that know and probably got some nasty words thrown their way. 

The downward spiral in the UK fox population likely began in the 1900s and facts prove that by the 1920s-1950s foxes were "hard sport to find".  You see, you do not have to just take my word for it.

Arizona Game and Fish Department: Canine Distemper in Coyotes

 Arizona Game and Fish Department

Important notice for dog owners! We've received an increased number of reports in recent weeks of sick or disoriented coyotes within residential neighborhoods, parks and green spaces.

Laboratory testing confirmed the diagnosis of canine distemper, a highly contagious and often fatal viral disease that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems of both domestic and wild animals, primarily canids.

So how can you protect your pets?

Keep pets up-to-date on vaccinations

Avoid feeding or handling wildlife

Supervise pets outdoors, especially near areas with wildlife

For more information, read our news release: https://bit.ly/4fDcPvF.

File photo of a coyote, not one of the coyotes referred to in this post

Ignorance and (unbelievably) a Wildlife Cover Up

 

 

I have previously posted about the stealing of my original research by others (interestingly I am blocked from all their media now so I cannot contact them over this any more -I am alerted to more of my work being used by this person.

https://foxwildcatwolverineproject.blogspot.com/2025/07/stealing-original-research.html

I have pointed out how the UK, in general is anti-wildlife

https://foxwildcatwolverineproject.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-uk-is-simply-anti-wildlife-and-truth.html

Having reached over 270 (known) dead foxes so far in Bristol and 73 (known) badger deaths the Bristol Green Party run  City Council has now refused to even look at the issue as it pushes on with developing or trying to develop on Green Spaces in the City. The Green Party UK has decided that it has no interest in wildlife or conservation and their cop out is to pass it all back to Bristol. The Green Party UK is NOT wildlife or environment friendly.

https://foxwildcatwolverineproject.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-failure-of-green-party-labour-20.html

The greatest problem has been that after 6 years of my life given to the Bristol Fox Deaths post mortems study I cannot publish the full report. Not only did the pathologist involved (on receipt of the final editing report) immediately attack me via email and make allegations that were provably false but he went to shut down my unconnected publishing business which I established in 2009. I just managed to save it by providing a lot of documentary evidence showing the false accusations but then the pathologist consulted a barrister to see "how much more I can do" -an open threat along with more false allegations.

The fact that the University of Bristol Posy Mortem Services, Langley Veterinary College, Natural England and the Animal Plan t Health Advisory for which this person worked refused flatly to even respond to my official complaint about his behaviour means that they fully endorse his actions which a solicitor informs me would clearly fall under cyber bullying as well as defamation laws.

WHY was it necessary to shut down a report -the first of its kind in the UK- that was intended to help wildlife vets as well as wildlife rescues?  It makes no sense but, officially, the report is suppressed.

https://foxwildcatwolverineproject.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-bristol-fox-deaths-report-and-why.html

I mention this since, apparently, my name is still being maligned in private and at least at one event. Apparently my publishing business is still periodically checked by certain persons with a view of taking action.

Two possible animal deaths that might be disease related I reported but was told that (paraphrasing) "We don't care. We are accepting nothing from you".

I have been a field naturalist and wildlife archivist/researcher for coming up to 50 years but all of that experience and knowledge is slapped down for various quite insulting reasons. I do wonder at times whether I might have achieved more in Europe?