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Monday 18 March 2024

The Same Old Same Old Story: Let Them Return Then Kill Them. 'Well Done' Austria

 


Austria opens hunt on golden jackals

Just recently, a golden jackal appeared for the first time in the East Tyrolean Pustertal. Also in South Tyrol, Upper Austria, Carinthia and Styria, golden jackals have been appearing in the past. Another four golden jackal families have settled in Burgenland. However, this is more than enough according to the provincial government of Burgenland. The province now tries to approve legislation to allow hunters to kill golden jackals between October and March.

Favourable conservation status?

The golden jackal falls under the species of community interest in the Flora and Fauna Habitats Directives. This means that hunting is only possible when there is a so-called favourable conservation status. A representative state councillor states that the golden jackal population reached this status. However, an objective assessment of the conservation status seems to be unavailable to justify the decision to start killing golden jackals in Burgenland, as is reported in the news.

However, provincial hunting associations have advocated the shooting of golden jackals for years. The main reason is that golden jackals catch hares and pheasants, young roe deer or even bigger prey, so says the representative of the hunting association.

Public opinion

The exact number that hunters can kill has still to be defined. This is also difficult as there is no official number of the current population size in the region. A public vote on whether we should kill golden jackals shows clearly what the general public thinks. Amongst the first 1000 voters 85% disagree with the statement as well.



WHERE Are The Businesses Willing To Support The Wildlife Work?

 


Whether it is research and studying species like foxes, otters, badgers, etc. or treating/rescuing them the one thing that is missing is the financial support. 

I caught the tail end of an interview with some businessman on radio and he was asked about helping the environment and wildlife as a way of giving back to the community. I will paraphrase slightly what he said: "These organisations never contact us -we're here."

To which I have to respond that most wildlife workers/rescues are almost 24 hours a day working to help, treat and catch wildlife that needs help and that is exhausting work and unpaid and often with a family attached to boot. Past experience has shown businesses unwilling to support animal charities because there is "no profit in it" or they just feel "Nothing to do with us". When every hour involves treating animals and trying to get supply donations people at rescues cannot afford time to search out every local business and ask if they would like to financially support them. One had the response "Cheeky cow!" for asking.

Businessmen have staff and those can easily check online for local rescues and wildlife rescuers and offer support for some good publicity. 

Oh, I have been down the route of trying to get support for fox research and the responses and been polite "Get stuffed" or "Why would anyone want to study foxes -their vermin" (No, vermin is a hunt word and foxes have never been called vermin by any official body) but the end result is always "Go away".

It's a struggle to get funding to cover costs of fox treatments and even cover fuel costs for a week so if you are a local business or businessman check around and see what local rescues there are. Show you care and PLEASE support them because they are needed.

Friday 15 March 2024

Cats or Humans?

   As a "shut up" to the people who follow the bad math of domestic cats wiping out millions of animals each year (yet despite over 1000+ years of domestic cats in the UK those species are still here).  Here we can estimate based on real body counts ands I can assure you that no cats were driving the vehicles. 

How many animals are killed on the roads UK?

In Britain annual road casualties are estimated to account for 100,000 foxes, 100,000 hedgehogs, 50,000 badgers and 30,000-50,000 deer.  Badgers were previously estimated at 65,000+ killed each year (and ignore the 250,000 humans have wiped out in a programme of extermination).

Ignore me and let's see what the Wikipedia entry on road kill has to say

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadkill#:~:text=Globally%2C%20the%20number%20amounts%20to,%2C%20reptiles%2C%20birds%20and%20mammals.

In the United States, over 1 million vertebrate animals are killed by vehicle collisions every day. Globally, the number amounts to roughly 5.5 million killed per day, which when extrapolated climbs to over 2 billion annually.

A year-long study in northern India in an agricultural landscape covering only 20 km of road identified 133 road kills of 33 species comprising amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. The study compared all species seen along the road and estimated that traffic killed individuals of 30% of amphibian species, 25% of reptile species, 16% of birds, and 27% of mammals.

  I checked and none of the drivers was identified as being a cat (forgive the black humour it comes with the work)


French wildlife overpass

 

We like to scapegoat an animal for the destruction we cause and even the poor hedgehog was the victim of bounty killing and are still being killed anywhere ground nesting 'sport birds' are kept. Oh, the badger was blamed for their declining numbers....then the fox. Never humans.

We blame the grey squirrel for the decline in red squirrels and yet they were released and merely replaced the British red squirrel that 'sportsmen' had wiped out by the 1860s...they then imported more.

We are now legally exterminating a 'protected species' (badger) based on bad science and corruption as the cause of bovine tb.

Foxes are now declining as a species. There are other species declining at an alarming rate in the UK and that is not due to fluffy the cat.

Please do not write"cats are an invasive species" because they are not. There were cats of a number of types before humans started colonising Britain -oh; we managed to wipe out the surviving lynx and then the wild cats.  Humans are a true invasive species that kills everything and anything for fun or because they simply do not care.

Stop blaming every animal in existence and look in the mirror to see the real wildlife destroyer.

Thursday 14 March 2024

Two New Publications



The proof copies of both The Extirpation of Wild Cats and Introduction of New Wild Cats to Britain and The Scientific Need For DNA Testing Of Old Wild Cat and Old Fox Specimens just arrived safely and everything looks fine.  

When it comes to The Scientific Need For DNA Testing Of Old Wild Cat and Old Fox Specimens this is a projects proposal document and not intended for general release although the Extinct Fox and Wild Cat Museum will receive copies for its library.  

As for The Extirpation of Wild Cats and Introduction of New Wild Cats to Britain this is a general release publication. These will be orderable from me in April. The cover price reflects that this comprises the results of 40 years of research.



15 Pages

 A4 (8.27 x 11.69 in / 210 x 297 mm),
Premium Color, 80# White,
£10.00 excl. p&p

What Can Businesses and Companies Do?

 


I keep getting asked that but the problem is that businesses tend not to be interested in wildlife issues or supporting wildlife work. There is no financial reward that they can see and so it's just "ignore it". 

I have seen over and over again businesses calling pest control companies to trap and kill foxes and young cubs. Everything from small businesses to big, international companies. This brings in negative publicity and pretty soon, with fox now being suggested for Red Listing as endangered, that negative publicity is set to increase.  The money a company pays pest controllers (who should not be trapping and killing foxes -and those that do need as much bad publicity as they can be given) can hire Fox-a-Gon https://fox-a-gon.co.uk/ 

"Fox-A-Gon® is a nationwide, humane deterrence service for individuals, companies and organisations who are being troubled by foxes but wish to resolve the problem without harming the culprits. We believe there is not only always an alternative to causing suffering or death but also far more effective, non-lethal methods of deterring them.

Foxes are protected under a series of wildlife protection laws. Poisoning, gassing, asphyxiating, maiming, stabbing, impaling, drowning, clubbing and most forms of snaring are a criminal offence, with anyone carrying out such acts subject to 6 months imprisonment and/or a £5,000 fine per animal.

It is an illegal offence to trap and relocate a fox from its’ territory without a soft release process in place, this takes weeks to months to complete. Foxes, like all wild animals, will not be accepted at a sanctuary if they do not have a need for medication and rehabilitation.

The fox is sometimes referred to as vermin, but it is not, and never has been categorised as such by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

The majority of complaints involving urban foxes include digging holes in garden lawns and flower beds, fouling in gardens, bringing in rubbish to garden areas, discolouring lawns, biting through garden light cables and irrigation pipes, fouling in school playgrounds and digging holes in sports fields."

I have heard fro0m schools that have foxes in their grounds and Health and Safety has made it clear to them that foxes are no threat to pupils or adults.  Schools that employ pest control or illegally remove foxes and cubs and destroy dens will be reported for committing wildlife crime and, again, as much bad publicity as possible will be given.

As far as businesses go there is the publicity benefit of taking "a positive stance on protecting wildlife and the environment". That is worth a few thousand pounds in good publicity. A policy to call in relocation experts is better from every angle than calling in pest controllers (who say they release trapped foxes but kill them anyway).

Businesses can also get great publicity by supporting wildlife rescuers and charities -rescues and wildlife hospitals. For instance donations can cover everything from the expensive veterinary treatments, equipment as well as wildlife medications such as mange treatments and antibiotics and so much more.

Of course there has to be the inclination with businesses to contribute toward the community and environment in the first place and for there to be that inclination and wish to actually set about building a legacy that gets them noticed is, seemingly, a rare thing amongst businesses.

I am quite willing to be proven wrong.

Foxes and Lungworm


photo (c)2024 respective copyright holder

 "The fox had a bad cough"  -I hear that every -so-often and as a rule it is not always serious;a fox gulped down too much food or something else.  However, if the cough is persistent then it may be time to contact your local wildlife rescue/hospital.

It can be something that appears on a lot of the fox post mortem reports I get; verminous pneumonia. Lungworm infection, also known as verminous bronchitis or verminous pneumonia, is an inflammatory disease of the lower respiratory tract caused by a variety of nematodes. Coughing and dyspnea (a shortness of breath) are the most common clinical signs, which can be exacerbated by concomitant (accompanying)  bacterial or viral infections.

The map below shows how widespread lungworm is

Lungworm: The number of confirmed cases by region (Image: Bayer)


The Blue Cross has a good information page on lungworm:

https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/health-and-injuries/lungworm-advice-for-dog-owners

What is lungworm?

Lungworm is caused by a parasitic worm that can travel around your dog's body through their blood vessels and affect the heart, lungs and other parts of the body.

Symptoms of lungworm in dogs

Diagnosing lungworm can be difficult because symptoms vary, but they can include:

  • coughing
  • breathing problems
  • not wanting to exercise
  • loss of appetite
  • vomiting or diarrhoea
  • weight loss
  • if a dog gets a minor injury, like a small cut, it might bleed for longer

Speak to your vet straight away if you think your dog might have lungworm.

How do dogs catch lungworm?

Dogs get lungworm by eating larvae found in infected snails, slugs or frogs. They can also accidentally eat infected slugs if they are on a toy or their fur.

The lungworm larvae then grow inside the dog and adult lungworms move through their body to live in their heart and blood vessels. In severe cases, this can cause heart problems, breathing problems and pneumonia. 

In mild cases, infection can remain unnoticed by owners. After about 28 days the worms start to produce their own larvae which can lead to serious problems. 

It can cause haemorrhages in the lungs, liver, intestine, eyes and spinal cord, but also pretty much anywhere in the body. If left untreated, it can be fatal in severe cases. The good news is that lungworm is usually treatable.

Dogs cannot pass the disease directly from dog to dog but they will pass the larvae in their faeces. This then infects more slugs and snails who are eaten by more dogs, so the disease can spread quickly.



Preventing lungworm in dogs

Talk to your vet about regular lungworm treatment and prevention, particularly if you travel with your dog around southern England or South Wales as cases are higher in these areas.

Regular anti-parasite treatment

There are currently many worming treatments available through a prescription from your vet. These often cover lungworm, so if your pet is at risk your vet can advise you which product will suit them and how often should be used.

Other preventative measures:

  • Make sure your dog does not eat slugs, snails or frogs.
  • Change the water in any outdoor water bowls regularly.
  • If you spot slugs and snails in your garden or local parks then be extra vigilant when out with your dog and always consult your vet as soon as possible if your dog becomes unwell.

Testing for lungworm

Your vet will ask you about any symptoms your dog might have and may do a blood test. They can also examine a sample of a dog’s faeces (poo) under the microscope to help diagnose lungworm, although this is not 100 per cent reliable as there are not always lungworms present in every sample. 

In more severe cases, an X-ray will also show changes or abnormalities in their lungs.

Treatment for lungworm

Most dogs will recover from lungworm if caught and treated early. The type of medication given will depend on how severe the condition is. However, a small number of dogs may have lung scarring afterwards. 

If left untreated, lungworm can do more harm causing inflammation and, in severe cases, internal bleeding and organ failure. This might mean your dog needs more treatment, so prevention is always better than cure. Sadly, in some cases, it can be fatal.

Can humans get lungworm?

No, lungworm is not known to infect humans. 

There are, however, other types of worms – roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms and whipworms – which can be transmitted from pets to humans, so it's crucial that regular worming takes place at least four times a year. Some tapeworms can also be passed on through infected fleas, but this can be prevented with regular flea treatment. 

Through the efforts of fox-watchers, feeders and the Bristol Fox Lady mange in the City of Bristol is being successfully treated when the suffering fox is reported and , again, I would always suggest a non-homeopathic treatment is used that guarantees success straight away.

 As foxes are now becoming endangered and their numbers decreasing I would take the opposing view to "Let nature take its course".  Ethically it is a quandary but there are many cases where government agencies and animal welfare groups are treating species for diseases and viruses that are affecting them. I think the fox deserves humans to morally give something back to a species that like the badger we are driving to extinction.

You protect your pet cats and dogs from various parasites and illnesses through yearly vaccinations or medications is that ethically wrong -is it just a veterinary gimmick to just fill the coffers a bit more? 

Once I have gathered enough data and opinion from rescues I will be outlining what I have found out about possible preventative treatments for lungworm but if you have any concerns look online for your nearest wildlife rescue/hospital and ask for advice.

Wednesday 13 March 2024

"I have a fox den under my shed can I move it?"

 Well, Chuckles: you cannot touch it.  I get asked this every year despite all the info put out. People are that thick that they just will not learn and I state that after almost 50 years researching foxes. 

 Just a few weeks back info posts were sent out....you know this one


Schools: "We have foxes in our school grounds how do we move them on?"! Got that from three schools last year and I explained that foxes are no threat to children or adults. Leave them alone and they move on once the cubs are old. In fact, stop pretending you are teaching kids about wildlife and the environment and use the opportunity to educate them. Get a camera hooked up so they can see wildlife on their doorstep so to speak. But, no, the utter ignorance of "educationalists" shines through.  

One school did try to call my bluff and called in the Health and Safety Executive and what did they tell the school? "You have to leave them where they are. They are no risk to adults or children. They will move on at which point you need to block everything off so they do not den there again".

Recently some fox cubs were found in a cardboard box in some woods. The vixen most certainly did not put the very young cubs there and she certainly did not carry a cardboard box around. That was literally a death sentence for the cubs but luckily someone walking a dog thought they were abandoned kittens so took them to a cat rescue where they realised these were canids not felids and so they went to a wildlife rescue. This would all stress the vixen who was probably looking for her cubs and it also has very serious repercussions on her as she is at risk of mastitis.  Want a photo of a vixen with mastitis we sent for post mortem?

Now, who would remove cubs from a den and place them in a cardboard box out in woods? oh...there is a school very close by and an easy walk to the spot where the cubs were found. If I could prove that school got rid of these cubs on the quiet I would take out a private prosecution against the head teacher and board of governors as well as local education authority.  This was a wildlife crime and the law is quite clear on this. 

Regarding fox dens:

"If the space is occupied by foxes or other animals, it's illegal to trap them by blocking the entrance. Instead, wait until the foxes stop using the space and then block the entrance before the next breeding season which lasts from December to May. Foxes don't usually stay in a den after they have reared their cubs."

It is that clear and with the fox population rapidly decreasing at a rate that even the British Trust for Ornithology after its mammal survey stated that foxes may need to be placed on the Red List every fox lost by vehicle is bad enough but through deliberate tampering with a den and the devastating consequences it can have on cub and vixen -people need to be further educated and those who carry out this type of crime whether Harry Smith at no. 45 or a school/business they all need to be named and shamed. I have reached the point that I can no longer be polite on the matter. You mess about with any wildlife den then you are stupid scum.

You complain about badgers and a badger sett that existed before you were born or moved into the property then you should have asked around before moving in. Touch or harm a badger or mess with a badger sett and there are going to be consequences because it has reached the point that human wildlife crime can no longer be accepted and if it means hitting people in their wallets or purses then good.

Learn to live with wildlife that was there before someone decided it was a good place to build houses because of the view and countryside. Learn to enjoy watching the wildlife and if you have kids let them experience watching wildlife from nearby (but indoors).

The Same Old Same Old Story: Let Them Return Then Kill Them. 'Well Done' Austria

  Austria opens hunt on golden jackals https://wilderness-society.org/austria-opens-hunt-on-golden-jackals/ Just recently, a golden jackal a...