Mange Deliberately Released in 1994?

  Sadly, I have to state that the outbreak of mange that decimate all but 6% of Briostol foxes between 1994-1995 was part of an experiment by University of Bristol.

The reason I have to come to this conclusion I have stated previously but from 1998-2025 the University refused to answer emails and letters about the work of Prof Stephen Harris's Mammal Study Groupwhich was part of Bristol Uni. In total 20+ requests for information.

In September, 2026 I made a Freedom of Information request for the data.

First the Uni did not understand a plain request so I had to define it for them. Then they wanted it defined again. Sounds like stalling. Then it claimed that it had absolutely no records or papers relating to the Mammal Group or its very widely publicised fox study -which spawned data for several books by Harris and Harris as an "expert" from Bristol Uni was publicised as giving eviodence in cases. Money spent by the group or gear such as radio collars, etc -no information.

Surely in their files the project funding had to have monies declare to HMRC? Nope.

THEN, showing that it was obviously either incompetent or stalling it asked ME when the Mammal Group was set up and when it shut down and when the Uni fox project started and ended!!

For records that were claimed to have been kept at the Uni it is odd that they are almost denying the existence of the Group and fox project.

I have waited since the beginning of October for the "internal review" to try to find information but nothing.

I think University of Bristol has a secret to hide. I believe that mange (unknown in Bristol up to 1994)was deliberately released and involved more than one fox that "left the City and returned with mange" -they had a radio collar on that fox but cannot explain where it "vanished" to or where it returned from OR how a single fox with mange spread it across the City to an entire population

Absolutely no record what-so-ever.

You judge.

[Former Mammal Study Group Data on the 1994/1995 fox mange outbreak in Bristol - a Freedom of Information request to University of Bristol - WhatDoTheyKnow]

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/former_mammal_study_group_data_o

Cancer in UK Foxes (V. vulpes)

   

Fox SH001 31 05 26 photo (c)2026 Fox Study

In Cancer Prevalence and Etiology in Wild and Captive Animals Madsen,  Arnal,  Vittecoq et al it is stated that:

 "Wildlife cancer statistics are, however, highly scattered in the scientific literature and hence challenging to access. Moreover, tumors in wildlife are most commonly detected during postmortem examination and therefore hard to confirm without histopathological examinations. However, even such analyses can be inaccurate because of high levels of autolysis (organ disintegration) (McAloose and Newton, 2009).

" In addition, individuals harboring tumors often display a decrease in body condition frequently resulting in higher levels of parasite/pathogen infections and concomitant increased levels in morbidity and mortality (Vittecoq et al., 2013) " 

The paper lists only one known red fox case: Vulpes v. pennsylvanicus  American red fox  Adenoma  Ratcliffe (1933)

To this I can add two British cases -one from the Bristol Fox Necropsy Study:

029       Dog   4.80kg  Old Adult (which means over 5yrs)  Poor/Emaciated  Severe necropathy and lymphoma (cancer)

The second is a new UK case and only occurred yesterday (Sunday 31 05 2026) but is far from clear cut:

Fox (SH001 31 05 26) was in a collapsed state and my colleague, LM, attempted to secure it to take to a vet, however, as in such cases, the fox used a burst of energy and started swimming toward an island in a pond (mini lake). The fox was being unsuccessful and so LMs daughter swan out and retrieved it where it was taken care of before going to a vet (not LMs regular one).

The vet reported that the fox died while under anaesthesia (we have questions here) but the results of the examination and X-rays was that the it had broken canine teeth, pelvic swelling and osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma is an aggressive type of primary bone cancer that typically affects children, teens, and young adults. It most commonly develops in the long bones near the knee or shoulder. Standard treatment combines chemotherapy and surgery to remove the tumor and save the affected limb.  With wildlife and foxes in particular veterinary care is in the hit-or-miss stage and based on whether the vet decides it is too costly, not worthwhile, etc. Wildlife has no National Health Service.

Luckily LM maintains video observation of foxes in the area so was able to give a brief background report on this fox:

"I've watched the whole video of her at normal speed on Friday night. She was moving normally, but she sat down for 2 mins which she hadn't done before , her ears were slightly not upright .  She didn't come Saturday night, I think she got as far as my side of the pond . Where I found her Sunday am at 0630.

"So the onset was acute not degenerative.  She has no injuries or bite marks.  Vixen 4.52 kg and full teats -as she thawed out the teats were squeezed and milk emerged

"She will be going for toxicology and Histopathy."

 Histopathology is the microscopic examination of tissue to study the manifestations of disease. It is the gold standard for diagnosing cancers, inflammatory conditions, and infectious diseases. By analyzing cellular structure, pathologists determine the exact nature of an abnormality, helping clinicians decide on the best treatment.)

LMs own vet took a look at the x-rays etc:

 

       X-ray Fox SH001 31 05 26 photo (c)2026 Fox Study

"My vet just left ... he's very unhappy. Doesn't agree with the RSPCA vets reading of the X-rays . He thinks my fox was healthy and typical of a little tough old female mother fox surviving in this crappy area . He thinks they are old healed fractures . She's a good weight for a lactating female . He is happy to refer her for detailed autopsy and toxicology. Thinks the vet's assessment was arrogant and lazy

"He also wouldn't have put her to sleep ( notwithstanding her passing away potentially from overdose as they weighed her in a wet towel )"

Despite a few attempts the RSPCA never came up with any details as per dosages used -hence the questions we have over  the possibility of overdosing. We had one fox in Bristol that was with a vet but died and as this was odd we arranged to pick up the body the next morning but on arriving were told that the fox had been collected without notice "Very early this morning and sent for incineration in Devon".  The fox was labelled correctly but when we got details of meds given we found that it was given a far too high dose of anaesthetic and that likely caused death and would have shown up in post mortem testing. Two independent vets confirmed overdosing.

We therefore have two vets and two differing opinions and a necropsy really should have been carried out  All we know from the PM carried out is that one vet stated fox had bone cancer.  2nd vet disagreed?  No PM examination was carried out re cancer but ultimate cause of death was due to "industrial or chemical pollutants" not found on land owner's land. To be noted a kestrel and two buzzards were the voctimes of rat poison along with other species in a 500 metre radius strongly suggesting that deliberate actions are going on by "persons unknown".

The Fox Project published a video that was forwarded to me of a fox trapped and with cancer and euthanised. The following image comes from the video posted.

 

Above the mass on the fox's right side can be clearly seen and affected its ability to use the leg correctly.

 

Above: from the rear the mass can be quite clearly seen.

I asked The Fox Project if they had any veterinary report, X-rays or pre-euthanasia images of the fox. I also asked whether, since cancer in foxes is very rare, a post mortem had been carried out or planned.   I got a brief response that they do not keep clinical records at the rescue(?) but I was given their main email to request such information. Then, today (15 09 2026) I received the x-ray and photo of the fox along with lump and a few answers (I have removed the name of the senior veterinary nurse for privacy reasons:

"Hi Terry,

Thank you for your email. Trev forwarded it onto me as I was the one who triaged her.

My vet wasn’t on site but after looking at the X-ray, she suspected it may have been a soft tissue sarcoma.

We have not completed any further testing as being a charity, we only tend to send off samples if it will change the outcome of a patient in our care.

I have attached the xray and a picture showing the extent of the growth to this email.

Hope this helps.

Best Wishes,"

 

First image shows far more clearly the size of the lump.

 

And next the x-ray. I actuially said "wow" out loud but Sarah Mills wrote "Wow. Wow. Wow." The poor fox must have been in some pain and I am glad that for once somebody bothered reporting it.

Soft-tissue sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that develops in the body's soft tissues, including muscles, fat, blood vessels, nerves, tendons, and connective tissues.

Soft-tissue sarcomas are cancers that originate in the soft tissues of the body, which connect, support, and surround other structures. They can occur anywhere in the body, but most commonly affect the arms, legs, and abdomen.

99% of UK fox rescues/wildlife hospitals tell me that they do not submit foxes for PMs so it is very possible -very likely in fact- that we miss a great deal that might push our knowledge on fox diseases and illnesses and treatments forward.

I Am Quite Beat

 

Honestly, I am beat.

Day in and working into the early morning to try to see that foxes, badgers and otters are kept safe and treated with respect is a full time and unpaid job.

DEFRA.Environment Agency.Local authorities will NOT give a straight answer about people using "electrical deterrents" to keep otters from ponds. It is a simple question that I have been passed around in circles over for... 5 years now. Nothing. The snared otter near a fishing club area that was dumped by the roadside -nothing. So wildlife crime is allowed now.

Other cases I have mentioned already so I will not go over again. the absolute anti fox and badger feeling amongst some people is ridiculous and unfounded. To date not one single "fox attacked/killed my cat" report has proven true. Owners name, pet's name, location, date and time given to vets -absolutely no records.

"Foxes have rabies" the last case of rabies in the UK was in 1923? And that was as a result of a "mad dog" bite. Foxes in the UK do not have rabies.

Badgers are "spreading TB to people in cities as well as to pets. This could affect your children too!".

Then there is "Buildings are collapsing because badgers have dug under them" Lie. Outright. "It's my garden so they should not be here!" (even when badgers were on the property 20-30 years before they moved in and they were aware oif them.

Of course, every year without fail some school wants "disease carrying foxes" and their den removed (always during cub season. Then there are the people who want badgers and foxes out from under the shed/greenhouse so that a new one can be built. I find out people are doing this then I report the matter to the police.

We know, because they admit it but (apparently) that is not proof that people cause as much disturbance around dens and setts and will even block established territorial trackways into/out of gardens to deter badgers and foxes.

It goes on and on and on and people say I need an "apprentice" -an unpaid, full time job that involves 90% grief and fighting with almost everyone? People think I am mentally unhinged for doing this without financial gain; helping and conserving wildlife is what is important.

Am I too negative? we are LOSING species with foxes and badgers as well as hedgehogs, otters and many other species about to fall into extinction and I live with that 24/7 so, maybe I am unhinged and negative.

No Historical Perspective Equals False Data

  There are a large number of mistakes noted in this video. Some are simply people making a video and carrying out no real research -simply repeatr what has bbeen presented.  Other inaccuracies are down to the scientists who presented the evidence.

Firstly, the biggest clue that no research work was carried out both parties is the statement that foxes started moving into cities "about 100 years ago".  They mean the dogmatic statement that came from somewhere (I have not been able to narrow down the source)  that foxes were first sighted in cities in the early 1930s.

In The Red Paper 2022 Canids it was shown through historical records that at one time the UK had three distinct fox types (without DNA tests it is difficult to state these were Vulpes sp) the coyote like Greyhound/mountain fox, the Hill/Mastif fox and the Cur or common fox. The first two only ventured near to farms or human habitation in the most desperate times such as harsh winters.  The cur fox had always lived near human habitations such as villages where, apart from rodents, there was plentiful human food waste. Foxes are recorded as living in barns and even under farmyards (not touching chickens that were plentiful but catching rabbits).

We know from what is recorded that there were fox friendly people even on land belonging to local huntmasters and that these were "feeders". It is not a modern phenomenon. We know that foxes were living in towns and cities usually undetected until venturing out in daylight or having been locked in some premises. The excitement was always great and, rather like every jackal /exotic animal sighting of the time being blamed on a travelling menagerie, a fox sighted in the city was 'obviously' an escaped pet. End of story. "How could a wild fox survive in a city?"  Again, human waste food, rats and mice were a good diet not to mention large iunsects.

Foxes are not loud and noisy creatures and people are, on the whole, about as observant as a plank of wood. Most likely, on seeing a fox, someone would think it a pet dog or even a pet cat (we still get that in 2026 because people think foxes are wolf sized animals).

Foxes have always been near human habitation and in the early Medieval period were also "farmed" in  fox enclosures for fur and meat.  This fictitious 1930s date was likely created by someone who sat in a college or university room and had "Professor" or "Doctor" in front of his name so was never questioned.

There is another major problem in this data and that is the skull sizes noted. Very likely some areas in the UK were imnporting foxes since the late 1500s when it was reported that they were becoming scarce due to fox hunting. At the height of the importing of foxes from Europe -=all detailed in accounts of the time- Leadenhall Market were importing well opver 1000 a year whil;e smaller marrkets and dealers would add an extra 1000+ to this. France, Norway, Netherlands, Spain -any country with foxes to catch and expert to England did so. It was quite a large trade in France.

These imported foxes were again, hunted to near extinction (the Old British fox vanishing by the 1860s during "The Golden Age of Hunting") and more were imported. Various problems meant that at one point English hunts were "stealing" foxes from the territory of Irish hunts (who had depleted their opwn fopxes anyway) and this led to questions in Parliament and itr was considered a "diplomatic matter".  

This means that skul;ls tested are not of a species that has always been here but one that became native via importation to replace the 'lost' species. So DNA testing largely shows European DNA. Well, 'big shock' and waste of time and money there. We are also talking about a species that was brought to the UK from at the very least from ten (10) countries.  Some were bred in British hunt stables to avoid paying out for imports so a fox from Germanyt might be bred with a fox from the Netherlands or France or evenm Russia.  This is going to lead to some skeletal/skull changes and often features created through breeding a locally "perfect for the hunt" fox (there was no real science or knowledge here just attempts at mix and matching foxes 0they even tried to breed fox-jackal, jackal-wolf and even added coyote into the madness.

Why are foxes in the cities and towns? Already stated. They moved around and found their main food source -rabbits- on the outskirts then found rats, mice and much more including food waste. I should point out that bin raiding is very unlikely since moist of the country moved to large wheelie bins in the 1980s.  

One fact slaps the "it was safer and easier in cities" theory in the face. World War Two. Cities bombed -noise, damage and people rushing around and digging through debris cause more noise and activity than a fox can bear. Some likely could do well following the war since the big problem was rats and mice. And the rubbled ruins would be great dens -in Bristol some bomb sites were not cleared and built on until the 1970s.

Foxes have intelliegence and with farmers shooting them and their young and hunts constantly posing threats especially during the 'fun' cubbing season the species would look for a safe place where the threat was not constant, where there was food and shelter to den up and keep young safe.  Neighbours talking about seeing a fluffy tailed "big ginger tom cat" tipping over the old aluminium bins to get to food scraps makes sense. One woman asked me about an "unusual cat" that kept passing through her garden. It was a fox. "But it's so small. My cat is bigger than that!"  Also, at one point in the 1960s, some local men going out with torches to find the scream from a woman also makes sense. 

As one person put it to me in a rather belligerent way in the 1970s: "This is a city. You do not get foxes in cities. It was a cat!"

Put out all the educational material you want and people will stil;l believe what they want to.

In the case of fox skull sizes I do not think what was presented shows anything. No evolution or how this is changing foxes and how they think. After 50 yearsI can tell you that foxes come in all shapes and sizes because of their historic breeding base. The biggest changes in foxes is one the "scientists" have missed out on because they are just lookiung at skulls; colouration. The Old British fox could be brown (a mottl;ed type fure), yellowish, white but black is not rewcorded. We had a massive influx of release fox fur farm animals in the 1950s when the trade failed. Silver foxes as well as (again) imported foxes were put out into the population -descendents of some of these are quite impressive.  

In the last30 years we have seen a greadual change in fox colouration. Some local foxes are "cherry red" while others a more orange colour, there are the "salt and pepper" fur types and even white and black have been known/photographed. The surprise is that there are more grey coloured foxes around. I first noted these in the SE of England but then they have 'spread' to the South coast and aboutr six years ago images of grey coloured foxes came from Bristol. Even very dark, almost black colourations.  This is a sign of melanism and in some areas we knopw this has come about via interbreeding between red foxes and released silver foxes -the history of these is known and recorded particularly by Black Foxes UK.

The increasing prevalence of black wolves is primarily due to a genetic mutation inherited from domestic dogs, which provides advantages in certain environments, especially against canine distemper. This mutation, known as melanism, results in increased production of melanin, giving the coat a dark color. Black wolves are more common in North America, particularly in regions like Yellowstone National Park, where the gene variant enhances survival during distemper outbreaks. Additionally, the black coat can offer better camouflage in forested areas, making it easier for wolves to stalk prey. 

Now, despite the belief that a fox and a dog can successfully mate they cannot. I have spent a lot of years looking at all the Dox (dog-fox) claims and not one has proven to be true. Therefore, one has to ask why melanism is becoming far more common in UK foxes?  I think that the first reason is red fox-silver fox interbreeding so that some of the offspring are born black. The second reason may well be down to changes to fight off disease. The Bristol Fox Necropsy study showed that babesia and leptospirosis (which foxes normally have anti bodies to especially since their main food source -rats- carries  lepto)  as well as other illnesses are claiming fox lives and in part this may be due to changes in the environment -something no one has looked into because "just foxes".

The colouration changes do not indicate a seperate species as some keep thinkinjg just localised variants wherfe past gene pools, environmental changes etc may have created necessary muations.

The ominous "Something DIFFERENT"  title of this video just goes to show that a little scare factor added to a video on research results that may well be inaccurate or need re-appraing goes to show that after all this time the true history of foxes in the UK and Eire  has not been undserstood.

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 When the Doggerland bridge flooded the British Isles became separated from

Continental Europe and its wildlife developed uniquely. The British Isles, for the purpose of this work includes Ireland, and isolated the wolves on both became what would be island species not affected by the usual island dwarfism. These wolves, after millennia. Became “unwanted” and forests and woodland was burnt down or cut down for the specific purpose of lupicide; the killing of every and any wolf –and there was a bounty for “a job well done”. At the same time there also developed three unique island species of Old fox from the coyote-like Mountain or Greyhound fox, the slightly smaller but robustly built Mastiff or Bulldog fox and the smaller Common or Cur fox –the latter like today’s red foxes had a symbiotic relationship with humans. These canids were mainly ignored until it was decided that they could provide fur and meat and those things earn money. From that point onward, especially after all other game had been killed off, the fox faced what writers over the centuries referred to as vulpicide –extermination through bounties paid, trapping or hunting and despite all the hunters noting that the Old foxes were nearing extinction they continued to hunt until by the late 1880s the Old were gone and replaced by the New –foxes imported by the thousands every year for the ‘sport’ of fox hunting and this importation also led the the UK seeing the appearance of mange (unknown before the importations). The travelling British sportsmen went coyote, wolf and jackal hunting and on returning to England wanted to bring a taste of this to “the good old country”. Wolves, jackals and coyotes were set up in hunting territories from where they could learn the lay of the land and provide good sport later. Some hunts even attempted to cross-breed foxes, jackals and Coyotes. Then there were the legendary –almost mythical– “beasts”; the black beast of Edale, the killer canids of Cavan and the “girt dog” of Ennerdale. In more recent times raccoon dogs and arctic foxes have appeared in the UK; some released for ‘sport’ while others are exotic escapees long since established in the countryside. If you thought you knew what fox hunting was about prepare to be woken up by a sharp slap to the face and the reality that, by admissions of hunts themselves, this was all about fun and sport and nothing to do with “pest control”.

We Sit Back and Lose EVERYTHING

 

By 2019 I had been in touch with Avon Wildlife Trust (AWT) a number of times, especially since forming BBG in 1994 after two years of finding Avon Badger Group under Mike Collins had gone defunct. Sadly I can find nothing online about Mike or the ABGs work and the only surviving member I did find was in her 80s and told me, regarding the ABG work/results, that she was "proudly taking them to the grave".

That does not helop badgers.

Anywway, AWT never bothered responding to results of wildlife surveys or other data. and that still applies.

In 2019 they posted this on their website regarding "bovine TV" (they did correct that further down.

Saving Avon’s Badgers | Avon Wildlife Actors Trust

If you’re out for a summer’s evening walk or drive, you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a black and white creature scurrying across a lane or skirting the edge of a woodland, its stocky form and short legs moving quickly. It will be a badger of course – a shy, nocturnal mammal and a wonderful animal to spot.

Badgers, like many wild animals, have plenty of myths and folklore attached to them, including the idea that if a badger walks across the path you have just walked on, you’re in for very good luck! And badgers have long been featured in literature, associated with wisdom – think badger in The Wind in the Willows who deals firmly with the mischievous Mr Toad, and the loyal Hufflepuffs in Harry Potter’s Hogwarts who have the trusty badger as their house emblem.  And badgers and the setts they live in have been protected by law in England and Wales since 1992 when The Protection of Badgers Act was passed by parliament, so they hold an important place amongst our native wildlife.

But these animals have been at the centre of much debate over the last decades. The Government’s strategy to halt the spread of bovine TV – a disease which affects cattle and causes immense hardship and devastation for farmers – has led to many thousands of badgers being killed due to the fact that badgers, like other wild animals, also suffer from bovine TB. Research however, shows that they are not the main way cattle become infected and that in fact, cows spreading the bovine TB bacteria to other cows is the key problem in herds becoming infected.

Avon Wildlife Trust – alongside the movement of 46 Wildlife Trusts across the UK – is opposed to the culling of badgers and we’ve this week started vaccinating badgers for the first time to protect badger families from the disease. We’ve started at a small scale, vaccinating badger families of adults and cubs on a woodland site at one of our nature reserves. Over the next four years, we want to extend across other nature reserves and work with other landowners and farmers to vaccinate more badgers across larger areas of landscape.

We’ve taken this step as a way to help tackle the problem of bovine TB in the Avon region and demonstrate an alternative to the cull policy – a safe alternative which is cost-effective, and which saves our wild badger populations in years to come. Several other Wildlife Trusts in different parts of the country have been running successful badger vaccination programmes for some time and research from trials carried out showed that three quarters of badgers which had been vaccinated had a reduced rate of infection. 

Our aim is to continue the work we’ve started this week and play our part in helping to find solutions to the problem of bovine TV whilst ensuring Avon’s wild badgers can thrive into the future.

To find out more about our badger vaccination work and the funding we need to do more please go to avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/saveourbadgers

Now, I have left that link as previously an "error" message was showing but I kept trying as knowing locations of badger clans it might help vaccinate the poipulation -even though there is no real threat from Bovine TB .   I sent emails asking for information on the vaccination programme.  I mentioned this to two people from AWT at the Wilkd Summit in September and they were very vague on the subject. They were "shocked" when looking at the Badger Death Register entires.  I did give my details and they promised to poass this along.

Nothing.

Today I tried the website again and clicked the link and:

"Oops. Sorry, this page couldn't be found. Here are some pages we think you might like instead."

Nothing but birds, clean water but mammals particularly foxes and badgers ...did you guess "nothing"? I was told by both people at the AWT stand "we work under Bristol city council" and we know how BCC feels about wildlife and the environment -it doesn't.

Since moving to Ashton Vale in 1994 I carried out surveys and on each occasion AWT was not interested. This all seems odd and thirty years on I still wonder wehat it does.

Stoats, hedgehogs, deer of various species, foxes and badgers -in a City and County with all of these mammals why are we not promoting education about them or letting people know they are here at least? It seems hedgehogs get some press when it might attract attention but badgers and foxes? No.

 We need wildlife groups and trusts to educate and make it clear to people that we are on the verge of losing hedgehogs, the fox population has dropped by an estimated 60% anbd the badger cull has resulted in 300,000 official deaths and a population under threat. Sitting back and doing nothing will not help unless your mind set is that you can take the grand children to see what foxes, hedgehogs and badgers looked like "when we still had them".

Imagine trhe answer you wil;l have to give when the grand kids ask "What did you do to try to save them?"

Was Mange Released Into Bristol Foxes

 

Looking at Stephen Harris and Philip Baker's Urban Foxes book there are things that are quite "off" as they state mange kills more foxes than cars. Really? Mange deaths are low but with over 270 known fox deaths this year and cars involved in 90% of them it is obvious they were not looking at the  facts (although the data they used "does not exist" -as I will explain further on)

 

At one point this claim about mange was true because up until 1994 mange was not reported in Bristol. That is the reason so many fox watchers who cared for minor injuries etc were caught off guard and could not help.

I keep stating 94% of Bristol foxes were killed off but looking at some other data the 95%+ figure for the number of foxes that died does seem more accurate.

There have been rumours for a long time that Bristol Uni and its fox study deliberately released mange into the City as part of a study to see how fast rabies would spread.  I may disagree with some of what Harris states but I would never believe that he would do such a thing (evidence seems to show that he was anti hunt).

That written, there are a LOT of questions that require answering. One fox devastated 94-95% of the urban fox population?

If you read this item you will find that the fox involved left the City then returned with mange.

There are a lot of questions that need answering as this makes no logical sense especially if you know anything about foxes. Since 2000 I have attempted to gain access to the Mammal Group study data. BristolUniversity has refused to answer emails, letters and even faxes on the matter. And the rumours grew stronger.

I took the last step of making a Freedom of Information Request.  First it was could I define and clarify what I was looking for? I told them that it was clear enough so made it even more clear. Then it was another excuse to delay. I redefined and made 100% sure that there was no way to respond other than with the data requested.

Bristol  University claimed that it had no such records. What's more there were no records from the Mammal Group.  In radio and press as well as other sources the University has claimed that all the data from all studies etc are held by them. One way or another someone is lying. The internal review officer then asked for the date when the Mammal Group was set up and ended and what years the Fox Study ran for

Absolutely nothing to do with my request.

And am I expected to believe that a university had no records and could not find even the most basic information on a group operating from its premises, using its equipment and everything that involves

From thinking I would be able to shoot down all the allegations made against the UniversityI am now in a position where it looks as though those rumours may be facts and that the University is running delays and denials.

Once the request is concluded I shall post the link to the online request and responses.

Mange may well have been deliberately released into Bristol's fox population

.

People Brag Openly Online About Wildlife Abuse

 I read an item on MSN yesterday about the RSPCA warning people to avoid grey squirrels as they might bite or scratch. The comments on this post then erupted into anti fox and anti badger comments.

People called badgers a nuisance for being in their garden and openly stated that they made as much noise around setts as they could and that over a few days the badgers or foxes moved on. They also stated how they let their children invite over friends to make as much noise in the garden as they could with the intention of driving off badgers and even blocking badger entrances into gardens and free run to their setts.

They are all describing illegal actions interrfering with bnadger and active fox dens with cubs in. Police could easily trace the accounts (I did with two) owners an initiate an investigation. But... too much hard work and even the confession online in a public forum can be dismissed as evidence.

This is the country we live in. NOT a nation of animal lovers, it never was -it is a Victorian/Edwardian chocolate box invention at a time when hunts and pro hunt supporters mocked and even got "physical" with (spat out with bile) "humanitarians". Yes, being a humanitarian was a dirty thing back then.

Badgers shot or snared and dumped by the roadside because everyone knows that drivers will not stop to check "just road-kill".

We have had foxes snared in the area but left by the road and only a post mortem revealed the cause of death. Was anything done to find out who was doing this? No.

We had an otter found dead by the roadside near afishing site. Road-kill? No. It was snared. Wildlife crime so what happened? Nothing.

We had a man set his dog onto a fox in Blaise Castle Park in front of people -good description of dog and owner. Fox torn up and thge post mortem added to eye witness reports. Action taken? None.

Another man set his dog onto a fox cub in Kingswood and killed it; and it was reported to police. Action -none.

Three foxes found one day on a local allotment that is pro rewilding and no poisons are used. Police wildlife officer went to the site and took statements. The foxes were on a compost heap 300 yards away and the allotment holders assumed the officer would take them for examination in case of wildlife crime. He would not even go and look at the foxes. He told everyone that he had "gathered intelligence" and that was it. Blind eye of the police at work and the officer never responded to messages.

It goes on and on and then we have the losses on our streets due to speed bumps having been removed and no signs about wildlife crossing or monitoring of speed of vehicles -deer, squirrels and over 270 foxes and 80+ badgers (known).

Oh, and every night across the country men and women go out to shoot and kill for 'fun' with impunity.

All of this I deal with on a weekly basis "Just foxes" and "sad about the badger, isn't it?" are responses from officials IF they respond at all.

Our fox and badger numbers are hitting all time lows and our hedgehogs are not doing much better. Hedgehogs, badgers and foxes need to be Red Listed and REALLY protected and people going out killing them for 'fun' need to be prosecuted heavily (including the off duty police officers who are in the mix).

When the public are anti wildlife and teach their kids to be anti wildlife you realise that however much you push and fight it is a losing battle.