The Guardian Newspaper Has Decided Fiction Is Better Than Fact

For an "environment reporter" Ms Horton certainly is ill informed. Firstly, the absolute crackpot claim that the fox population has boomed. Even the British Trust for Ornithology after its mammal survey suggested that the decline in the fox population should see them Red Listed. Estimates of population loss are 60-70% and in some areas of the countryside foxes are no longer seen and in Wales photographers are finding so few that they travel to Bristol to photograph them.

Bristol alone loses around 300 foxes a year on the roads and the decline is noticeable.

I assume Ms Horton's info comes via the Countryside Alliance?  Oh, who is is destroys and damages more nests each year? Humans. Hunts run across fields and what nests do not get trampled on by horses the hounds will sort out. Many farmers hate the various protected birds and do not want them on their land so...destroy nests and say "bloody foxes" and you are covered.  Reintroduced and protected birds of prey are also shot and poisonbed when they establish nests -I assume that'll be the foxes?

The fox, badger and hedgehog are all heading for extinction if not near extinction by the 2030s and the cause of that, as with MANY other species in the UK, are humans -perhaps Ms Horton ought to read some actual facts?

https://foxwildcatwolverineproject.blogspot.com/2024/01/how-many-animals-killed-on-uk-roads.html

Scapegoating a species to sideline what humans are doing has resulted in over 300,000 badgers culled and it makes no different except everyone gets money in their pockets. Add the thousands killed on our roads and you have a full on no one cares extinction program with unpaid volunteers (drivers).

If you are going to publish something make sure it is factual and not covering up for the damage humans are doing.  For Ms Horton and The Guardian here is some extra information:

"Fact: something that is known to have happened or to exist, especially something for which proof exists, or about which there is information: No decision will be made until we know all the facts."

You are welcome

 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/sep/11/a-last-resort-is-culling-foxes-the-only-way-to-save-britains-vanishing-curlews?fbclid=IwY2xjawM5HQBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHntVcqlFEH8lN6ul1JRHPT6KrY-jDocxAxPnBHolRcm4xv2fvjYkPkwbqG9__aem_QgIq-DEX6Vr-It0XZe_64Q

Helena Horton Environment reporter

Should we be organising mass culls of foxes and crows in the UK in order to save the plummeting numbers of curlews? That is the argument put forward by certain bird conservation groups.

The curlew, one of Britain’s most charismatic birds, with its curved beaks and distinctive call, has been disappearing from the countryside, declining by 60% in 25 years. It is just one of a number of ground-nesting birds that is vanishing – research has found that ground nesters are 86% more likely to decline than birds with other nesting strategies.

The root of the problem is complex. Farming practices such as running heavy machinery down fields to cut grass for silage are partly to blame for the decline. The machines chop up the eggs and chicks hidden in the grass.

But the additional issue is that the way humans manage the UK countryside has caused a population boom of foxes, crows and other mesopredators in some areas, which is putting ground-nesting birds at risk.

Over centuries, most large predators such as eagles, lynx and wolves, which would usually keep the numbers of foxes and crows under control, have been hunted in the UK to extinction or near extinction. Farming practices have meant plentiful food for foxes and crows is left in fields, from crops to animal carcasses, including the tens of millions of fat, domesticated, easy-to-catch pheasants released every year for shooting.

These mesopredators like to feed on the eggs and young of ground-nesting birds. So is it time to talk about a fox cull, asks the conservationist and writer Mary Colwell, who runs the charity Curlew Action? She has been campaigning to save the curlew for years, and although she hates the idea of shooting a fox and would never do it herself, she suggests a “serious conversation” needs to be had.

“Curlew chicks and eggs are incredibly vulnerable to the activities that we do on the ground,” she told the Groundswell farming conference earlier this summer. “So when I say curlews have declined by 60% in 25 years, it’s not that the adults are dying. Adults survive really, really well; it’s that they cannot get enough eggs and chicks away to replace the population.”

She says an increasing number of conservationists feel culls may be the only solution. “In the UK we have huge numbers of what’s called mesopredators. Every single one of those creatures is an absolutely wonderful bit of Britain’s natural history in its own right. But there are so many now, and the decline of ground-nesting birds is so severe, that the two are coming together to create a catastrophe for ground-nesting creatures. There is a huge agreement on how to protect red-listed birds like curlews, and predator control is absolutely central to that.

“I couldn’t do it. I can’t lift a gun and shoot a fox. But I know it needs to be done if we want curlews, and that’s the societal question.”

But some disagree that predator control is the answer. Dr Ruth Tingay, co-director of the campaign group Wild Justice, said: “Lethal control of some generalist predatory species will not solve the long-term issue of their over-abundance, which is a direct result of the mismanagement of our countryside.

How far zoology has fallen.

 There have been no takers amongst the people I  offered the opportunity to DNA test the Olds Foxes and Old wild cats in possession of my colleague LM at the Extinct Foxes and Wild Cats Museum. Even if it turned out the test results were mundane (I doubt they would be) there are at least two papers that can come from such work.

My Red Paper books are not designed to be sellers and financially rewarding -people just are not interested so the expectance is zero sales!  The Red Papers are all fully referenced and would serve as research to be peer reviewed -no, I cannot think of anyone else who has spent 50 years researching and studying foxes or who has carried out research in newspaper archives as well as journals and books going back to the 18th century -but everything in the books are checkable.

The fella at a Swiss museum who told me he had been "a red fox expert for 30 years" but had not come across anything I had noted in an email to him. Well, how many 19th, 18th or 17th century wildlife and hunting books and journals had he read?  I cite the Norwegian zoologists who informed me that only fox furs would have been exported to England and that they had never heard of Norwegian mountain foxes -so I sent them all the references I had and after that they no longer responded to emails. The Swiss fella told me that their collection of foxes were in a room behind him but that he was not going to get up and check them unless I had a paper published that explained my "bizarre" claims. He was not interested in a copy of the book. 

That is unscientific in mindset as well as in practice. If he had looked and found examples -photos were sent for him to check- he could have gotten a book or more research grants had he found an Old fox type.

I come across the rather rude responses or even silence from a lot of European museums who will not discuss, check and in some cases will not even reply. One museum in the Netherlands did and they found a fox from England dated 1848 -which would have been perfect for DNA testing.

The Sarrazin foxes referred to in past posts would have had zoological if not national importance for French zoology but the Paris Museum simply sent me in circles ands pretended that they did not understand what I wanted -sent in English and French!

It is interesting that certain persons at museums have decided that rather than look at the work -they are not paying for the books!-  and the evidence it is better to call me names or suggest that I am a crackpot. I do hear back from people about these things.

Zoology appears to have become unscientific and at times I think ought to change its name to Dogmaology. From the very top to the lower ranks of zoology and natural history it seems that it has just been decided to not rock HMS Dogma but keep promoting it and making money from it.  It hides the facts and truth of what humans have done in driving species extinct or, as with the current British fox and badgers, just sit back and watch them go extinct after all, there will be a lot of money in trying to 're-introduce' or write papers and books about the stupidity of people allowing the extinctions.

How far zoology has fallen.

Okay -What is a Naturalist?

  

In one of those "we are stupid and so are people" items on the interest it asked "What is a naturalist?"

It answered its own question:

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/lifestyle/lifestylegeneral/what-is-a-naturalist-really-it-s-not-just-old-blokes-in-safari-hats/ss-AA1KzPMk?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=d6504460c8344b8adc4fa18c81bd8b48&ei=46#image=2

"A naturalist is someone who studies and observes nature, but not necessarily in a lab coat or with a PhD. They’re people who pay attention to the living world, whether that’s birds in their back garden or fungi in the local park. You don’t need fancy qualifications, just genuine interest and the willingness to actually look at what’s around you.

"It’s really about developing a relationship with nature through observation and understanding. Naturalists learn to recognise patterns, identify species, and understand how different parts of ecosystems connect. They’re the people who notice when the swifts arrive in summer, or can tell you why certain mushrooms only appear after rain."

It left out that naturalists get no recognition or reward and do all the dirty work that Zoologists then use to get...recognition, rewar5ds and grants!

Thomas 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.

Naturalist/Mammalogist and Wildlife Historian Brief Cv

 

 Field Naturalist specialising in Mammalogy and wild canids and felids in particular.

From 1977- acted as a UK police forces advisor on exotic animals and formed the exotic Animals Register (EAR) in 1979. Also advised farmers and farmers groups as  well as other official bodies on exotics in the UK. Has cooperated with a number of UK colleges and universities including Exotic Cat Group University of Wales Swansea. The long term project makes him the most experienced (the only) naturalist working on this matter and studying any long term effects on the ecosystem.

1976 set up the British Fox Study concentrating on UK foxes and their history which resulted in The red Paper Vol. 1 Canids (2009) and The Red Paper 2022 Vol. I Canids looking at the history of the wild canids in Britain and Ireland/Eire including foxes, wolves and other released for hunts. Extinct Canids Study is a part of the Fox Study.  Again, this is the longest ongoing study of foxes in the UK.

Has looked at extinct canids and felids and written extensively on them including Hokkaido wolf and Falklands wolf.

As part of the British Fox Study a new project was set up in 2021 -The Fox Deaths Project which is unique in that foxes that have died under unusual circumstances or with odd symptoms are submitted via Bristol University Post Mortem Services and investigative PMs carried out at Langford Veterinary School. This is the only project of its type in the UK and revealing a great deal about what, other than cars, is killing foxes.

In 1980 the Wild Cat and Hybrids Study was set up and since its inception  has made a number of breakthroughs in over 40 years (as with the Fox Study) on British and Irish wild cats and their history. Island wild cats as well as feral cat colonies are one aspect of the Study. 

1. A Method For Grading Sightings Of Non-Native Cats: Application to South and West Wales, UK: Professor  Alayne Street-Perrott, Alaric B. Smith Exotic Cat Group University of Wales Swansea and Terry Hooper-Scharf Exotic Animals Register.

Proceedings of the 2^nd Eastern Cougar Conference, Morgantown, West Virginia, 2004  

2. Exotic Cats In Britain: An Historical Perspective, Professor Alayne Street-Perrott, Alaric B. Smith Exotic Cat Group University of Wales Swansea and Terry Hooper-Scharf Exotic Animals Register, Proceedings of the 2^nd Eastern Cougar Conference, Morgantown, West Virginia, 2004  

3. (Contributor) Survey effort and Sighting Probabilities for Non-Native Cats in Carmarthenshire, Professor Alayne Street-Perrott, Alaric B. Smith Exotic Cat Group University of Wales Swansea, Swansea Geographer 2004  vol. 39

4. The Biography of Perceived Encounters with Pumas and Other Exotic Cats in South and West Wales, UK; Alayne Street-Perrott, Alaric B. Smith Exotic Cat Group University of Wales Swansea and Terry Hooper-Scharf Exotic Animals Register. 2004

5. Felids: Wildcats, Ferals and Hybrids, Terry Hooper-Scharf. Vale Wildlife Group, 2000

6. UK National Wolverine Population and Evidence, Terry Hooper-Scharf, Vale Wildlife Group, November 2000

7. The Red Paper: Foxes, Fox-Domestic Dog, Hybrids, Arctic Foxes, Wolves, Jackals and Coyotes: An Extensive Study of Vulpes vulpes in the United Kingdom and Releases/Escapes of Non-Native Canids; Terry Hooper-Scharf.  Black Tower Books, 2011

8. The “Girt Dog” of Ennerdale: Hyena, Thylacine or Escaped Exotic Cat: A Naturalist’s Assessment of the Evidence. Terry Hooper-Scharf. Black Tower Books, 2018

 9.  The Current Threat To UK Fauna And The Introduction Of New Fauna Species Terry Hooper-Scharf. Black Tower Books 2021

Popular subjects with a heavy wildlife slant to them

10. Some Things Strange and Sinister Black Tower Books, 2009

11. Some More Things Strange and Sinister Black Tower Books, 2010

12. Pursuing The Strange and Sinister: A Naturalist's Viewpoint Black Tower Books, 2012

13. Mysterious and Strange Beasts Black Tower Books, 2012

14. The Red Paper 2022: Canids

15. The Red Paper 2022: Felidae

16. The Red Paper 2025: Wild Menagerie

Six other non wildlife related books

Various other unlisted papers and articles 2000-2024

One can only make assumptions -and not good ones.

 

One thing I hear from people is "Why don't you send your books to Sir David Attenborough? He is interested in conservation so the documented extermination of British foxes and wild cats ought to interest him"

Well, I did try. Twice.  I asked Attenborough Productions in advance whether Sir David or they might be interested in copies of The Red Papers  -Canids and Felidae-and they said he/they would and Sir David "always responds" to such things.  I sent the two books. It was recorded that they had arrived but after two months I asked whether the bvooks had been received? No response.

There was a suggestion by someone that even though it said the books were delivered I ought to know that this is not always a fact. True.

Therefore I phoned Attenborough Productions to make sure that any such books would get to Sir David and was told "absolutely. Addressed to him here then he gets it no one else".  I then sent two more copies and at the same time a brief email and explaining what the books were and I even mentioned that the late David Bellamy had called the original Canids Red Paper "explosive for British wildlife history" and then I waited. And waited. A month later I emailed and asked whether they could confirm that the books had arrived? Nothing so I left it another week and phoned. The books had been received but they could not comment as they had not read them as they went to Sir David.

A month later and a polite "sorry to take up any of Sir David's time but---" email. Nothing. So I sent a letter covering things and "hoping" that the books had reached him. I knew that they had and so did my bank account from ordering the copies and sending them signed for!

Almost a year one and another polite email and nothing. I did read and hear how other books sent to him had received responses.  We know that he is involved in 're-introducing' wild cats to Scotland so the true history and the fact that the genuine wild cat was exterminated in the 1860s (fully documented) might not have sat well.

How about the fact that the proven three variations in the Old British foxes (Greyhound, Hill and Cur) were exterminated by humans through hunting and that what we see today are the results of importations going back to at least the 1600s (all documented)?  Well, we know he was great friends with many landed gentry involved in hunting and, of course, his decades of friendship with the late Queen Elizabeth ( a well known blood sport enthusiast) and he is also friends with the current King and Queen as well as Prince William and Katherine who are all blood sport enthusiasts.

The thing is that the BBC and then Attenborough Productions have full control on his image. Anything negative would not be allowed online. We know that most of his documentaries have had staged "in nature" incidents exposed but such staged scenes are common for TV natural history programmes.

Attenborough 'hunted' and trapped animals for Zoos which was a norm though that gets sort of glossed over (even if his series was called "Zoo Quest").

Even a search carried out over two weeks made it no clearer what his views on fox hunting were. Checking Google all it could come up with was:

"Sir David Attenborough has not made public statements on the specific issue of fox hunting with dogs in the UK, as his work typically focuses on the natural world and animal behaviour rather than human activities or laws like fox hunting. While he has narrated documentaries like The Hunt and The Life of Mammals, which show predators like Arctic foxes and lions hunting for survival, his commentary does not extend to commenting on human blood sports."

As one person put it to me: "Why do you think Attenborough would have been interested in your books? He is an establishment figure and on fox hunting alone he could have spoken out and ruined them all -including the pro hunt BBC people and his beloved Royalty. He is not rocking any boats"

It is unthinkable that someone so interested and promoting wildlife conservation would be happy to laugh and talk to people who go out killing wildlife for 'fun' and "bloody" their children after their first hunting kills (Harry and William). As pointed out, Attenborough has never made a clear public statement on fox hunting and if he were against such activities and for preserving British wildlife the repercussions from a public statement could destroy the 'sport'.

One can only make assumptions -and not good ones.

EVERY Year Like Clockwork

 Oh look, its cubbing season and another anonymous person posting the exact same bs as every other year for the past ten.

Next it'll be the ginger or ginger and white cat seen having been snatched by a fox or foxes.

Owners and moderators on the FB groups posting this year after year need reporting as they know what is going on.