Please read the conclusions and note what is written. There will be no further comment from the British Fox Study on this case which includes commenting to journalists.
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I have warned on a number of occasions of snaring activity going on in and around the City of Bristol. Mostly these warnings have been ignored or treated as being not factual. We have a report of one fox put down last week outside the City due to possible snaring injuries.
We have heard of other instances but were never able to access the dead foxes for PM.
I should like to thank PM Services and in particular the senior pathologist for the work they have put in.
On 10/11/21 this fox was found lying dead with its back facing the road (Woodland Road) but seemed in fairly good condition. The animal collector checked it in situ but notes no apparent breaks or injuries with a slight amount of blood by mouth but no obvious facial injuries.
Saving you the images the pathologist's conclusions:
"Numerous fleas were present over the body. A wound was present in the right fore axilla extending approximately 5cm in length. The wound extended through the skin, subcutaneous connective tissue and only superficially into the underlying muscle layer. There is a rim of hair loss adjacent to the wound and the surrounding fur isstained with dried blood. A line of hair loss runs diagonally from one end of the wound around the neck to join up with the other end of the wound.
Comment: These findings would indicate that this fox had been “snared”. It would be difficult to say if this was an intentionally set fixed snare or something else not tethered but acting like a snare. If the latter the fox might still have been able to move and thus feed. The carcase wasn’t emaciated. Whatever was around the neck and leg of this fox it obviously had been removed probably a short period before death.
Severe acute trauma causing maceration of the liver, tearing of the spleen and haemorrhage into the CSF resulted in fairly immediate death immediate. This probably was an RTA. The bacteriology results are due to post mortem contamination and it would not be possible to say if there was septicaemia. It would be worrying if this was an intentionally set snare, as cats and dogs might be caught. However the fox may have been snared by something deliberately/accidentally discarded that acted like a snare.
Summary: Previous “snaring” and probable RTA as the ultimate cause of death" -end summary---
If you live in the City of Bristol then the best way that you can help is to contact the Avon & Somerset Police Chief Constable's office who can look over any evidence they already have. You can also contact the RSPCA Regional HQ in Bristol stating your concerns over snares in the City.
It is probable that a pet may already have sustained and died from an injury not recognised as being from snaring.
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