Road Wildlife Under/Overpasses update 19 02 2024

 

Sent to Bristol City Council Highways, Mayor Marvin Rees, Regional Mayor Dan Norris and Highways England

Hello.

Please find attached the Bristol Fox Deaths Register for 2023 as well as the Badger Deaths Register for 2023 maintained by the British Fox and Canid Study (f 1976) and the Bristol Badger Group (f 1994). In summary, for 2023 (and only animals given a location that could be found) some -I should point out that the total number of fox deaths listed herein are not all that died in 2023. There are numerous reports of “a dead fox in Bedminster not sure what road” as well as “I was driving into Bristol and saw a dead fox -not sure of the location” and when attempting to narrow locations down the usual response is silence or “I have no idea but I’ve reported it”.

The total number of foxes killed on Bristol roads in 2023 was 257 and these include cubs, pregnant vixens and dog foxes.

The total known number of badgers killed in Bristol for 2023 was 53.

Our work now includes recording deaths of otters which totalled around 6 for 2023.

We do not keep a record of deer and other mammals/birds killed on Bristol roads but the number is high.

We know that for January 2024 to total fox deaths stand at 25 and one of these was a heavily pregnant vixen. We have also just recorded the first otter death of 2024 at Lawrence Weston.

One black spot for wild life deaths is the Hick's Gate stretch of road -deer, badgers, foxes etc. Saturday 27th January saw four fox deaths on this stretch of road.

For otter deaths we know that the major black spot is the Hartcliffe Way which sees the highest death rate. Looking through the registers you will note that certain areas always crop up and Downend is a particular black spot for foxes and badgers.

I am aware that it will cost, financially, but I would like the departments and Mayors to consider the possibility of wildlife underpasses being installed in the main hot spots -Hick's Gate and Hartcliffe Way as the rate of wildlife death on these stretches is so high and otters and badgers are protected species.

We are currently looking at environmental crises and concentrating on wildlife areas but we are not looking at the animals themselves and how the impact of their deaths are affecting the environment -foxes as hunters are not wholly carnivorous but will catch and eat large numbers of rats and mice and in some cities around the world they are seen as far more effective than rodenticides(as are feral cats). If the numbers of foxes and badgers continue to drop then we will be seeing them, in the City, as rare and they took a long time to recover after 94% died off in the 1994/1995 mange outbreak.

So, please, give the idea of some type of underpass or overpass for wildlife serious consideration as in many parts of the world they have been adopted as essential.

I look forward to your responses when convenient.

Regards

Terry Hooper-Scharf

Although Highways England got back to me almost immediately with "Nothing to do with us -local authority matter" is is rather damning that Bristol City Council Highways, Mayor Marvin Rees, Regional Mayor Dan Norris are notable for their complete silence on the matter. For this reason I have, again, emailed them and told them of the number of deaths of foxes, badgers and otters reported dead since my last email.

Sadly there is no profit in saving wildlife. Anyway, for the record, here is the email sent out today:

"Hello.

I wrote to you in January regarding this matter and attached the 2023 Bristol badger and fox death registers in order to show you how important the issue of wildlife deaths on our roads is.

Since I last communicated with your office the death toll has increased to 39 foxes including three pregnant vixens, two badgers and two more otters. I understand that the issue of wildlife may not be high in your priorities but according to Highways England the local authority, Bristol City Council, would be responsible for looking at the possibility of roads over/underpasses for wildlife at hotspots in the City.

With hundreds of foxes dying on Bristol's roads last year and scores of badgers not to mention otters and deer this is a grave situation that cannot be ignored because we cannot continue to see such losses as they have an affect on Bristol's environment -and BCC is supposedly supporting the fight back against environmental damage.

I hope that you will give this your serious consideration .

Respectfully

Terry Hooper-Scharf"   

I expect continued silence from an authority far from interested in environmental or conservation issues.

To date (12th Feb) Marvin Rees has shown his fakery over claiming to be an environmental champion and has refused to engage on this subject.

Regional Mayor Dann Norris (supposedly an animal lover) has also refused to comment.

Local DEFRA as well as Bristol City Council Highways and Roads have also refused to respond.

This should not be surprising since Labour's mayor has attempted to have greenbelts built on and is not considered interested in anything but publicity.  Dan Norris is seen as a political light weight interested in self publicity.  While people such as these lie and twist around the environment and conservation we will continue to lose habitat and wildlife.

Today I recorded the 40th fox death -again at a well known wildlife blackspot- to add to the two otters and badger. And where are the journalists investigating these thing? Writing pieces about foxes lick car tyres bald, eating cable in car engines and being too noisy for Paul Gambaccini.

The UK has no interest in environment or conservation.

******************************UP DATE*************************

Response from Dan Norris

Dan Norri9s finally replied re wildlife crossings

Dear Terry,

Thank you for contacting me to share some statistics about animal deaths on the roads in the West of England. As someone who is an animal welfare advocate I find this very sad.

Highways England are right on responsibilities and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority is not a ‘local authority’ – locally that is Bristol City Council.

However I am aware that the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority does work with local authorities and other organisations to tackle transport severance (the name given to wildlife deaths caused by traffic incidents) in the wider region.

I will ask that the locations mentioned are included in discussions.

It is good to see that there are individuals in the region monitoring this matter, as this is very helpful when making decisions about how to develop policy which protects wildlife better going forward.

If you are not already, you could submit your data to the Environmental Records Centre for the West of England https://www.brerc.org.uk/.

Specifically for otter deaths, you can inform the Cardiff University Otter Project https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/otter-project, and if appropriate, the body of the otter can be sent to the university for research.

I hope that this response clarifies my position on this important matter. Thank you once again for contacting me.

Yours sincerely,


Dan Norris
Metro Mayor for the West of England