Bristol Fox Deaths Project -some notes

 

 Currently we have over 70 completed post mortem reports on foxes which also include early facial injury cases. We have submitted 14 suspected leptospirosis foxes this year and once those PM are done we will have had 80 foxes submitted.  

My hope is that, for statistical analysis we will go as far as 100 foxes which will allow us to look at the highest, non-vehicle related, cause of death in foxes in and around the City and County of Bristol. This should then reflect what the national situation is expected to be and I would hope that rescues and vets will be more willing to submit weak, shutting down, jaundiced foxes for PM Examination locally.  The big issue is always the costs of tests since they are rather expensive and yet essential.

TEM (Techniques in Electron Microscopy) and PCR/ RT-PCR (molecular diagnostics now common in animal research).  It needs to be remember that all foxes submitted are tested for AIV (Avian Influenza Virus) before they can even undergo post mortem examination.

With a top pathologist working on the PM examinations we are discovering a great deal and other researchers are already benefitting.  What we find now will, hopefully, form a data base for any future research projects carried out.  The data will be available initially in an end of project report -the intention is to make our findings available -the work of Bristol Universities for fox study is apparently not available as a request to view the research findings was rejected.

Foxes and their health and place in the environment have long been ignored -as with other maligned wild canids- and it is hoped that we can change that not just with the Fox Deaths Project but also other work carried out including in situ treatment of injured and sick foxes.

Is The Fox A Good Environmental Indicator?

I was asked why it was important to find out about fox health as well as what is killing them -other than cars and 'fun' shooters.  The answer is simple; foxes, like wolves, coyotes and jackals are what can be termed "Environmental health indicators". It can be simplified with "Prey and Predator".

In area where there are large numbers of deer woodland and local vegetation suffer as numbers grow and the her only moves on after local food sources decline. In the next area they move to a similar situation arises while the previous area may take decades to recover.  Where wolves have been introduced not only do the weak and sick deer numbers drop but deer herds tend to not remain static, They keep moving to avoid the predators and vegetation can continue to grow.

Plants and wild flowers as well as fruit growing attracts insects of all types as well as reptiles and smaller mammals.  These in turn are food sources for omnivores and carnivores -like foxes wolves and coyotes have been observed/filmed eating fruit when it is plentiful. In other words the eco system is well balanced with plenty of vegetation, insects, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds.

If the main prey animal of a carnivore dies out or are dying from disease then the carnivore also suffers. In the 1950s we say foxes starving in the SE of England as the rabbit population was devastated by human released myxomatosis.  Other species have suffered similarly when their main prey item is dying off.

A good, clean ecosystem means that species will breed and the chances of a good number of young surviving is better.  Some species regulate breeding so that in poor years when food sources are poor there will be no young. In good years there are young as no obstacles in feeding them.   For country foxes that means that as long as there are plenty of rabbits they will do well and fewer rabbits means less crop damage. Farmers pay out a lot of money for people to kill both foxes (which do not do the harm as pro hunt propaganda would have you believe) when the fox is the best and most efficient pest control you can get for free.  One farmer noted that a fox had been on his farm for years and never caused a problem and it had made his farm virtually rat free.

The Town Fox has its main source of food in rats and mice. One gentleman at a public building knows that the resident fox catches and kills rats as each week he adds up the number of rat tails (the only part of a rat foxes do not eat) and over a weekend he counted 16.  Others -including farmers- note the number of rat tails they find and that is a good indicator that the fox does good work.  A fox is far better for the environment than poisons that can kill cats, badgers, hedgehogs as well as birds of various types.

Plenty of badgers indicate a good environment although their number is reaching a critical point.  Town badgers do well, apart from roads and cars, and so that is a good indicator of the environment.

Of course, the fox often has an unwanted companion in the magpie.  This relationship is even depicted in medieval art. A fox may leave behind scraps or may be harassed enough that its kill can be stolen -something like this was filmed in London in 2024 where a fox was hunting and killed a rat while magpies hopped back and forth.

Every predator has a bird that will scavenge from it.

Therefore, when foxes die something is wrong.  Sadly there is nothing that can be done about cars and roads but when a previously healthy fox collapses and dies  or is found dead in a garden questions need to be asked. A fox can look outwardly very healthy and yet be found to have internal injuries that led to its death after being hit by a car. People automatically start calling it a "fox poisoner" at work. A fox hit by a car can move on until the internal damage takes its toll.  Until there is a post mortem examination we are often left with a question mark over a fox death.

When it comes to foxes that look healthy but are struggling or seen to deteriorate fast there has to be  an investigation. It is never poisoning until a post mortem and testing is carried out. To date we have had only one secondary poisoning cases where a fox ate a poisoned rat. Babesia, verminous pneumonia (lung worm) and other causes have been found but when, as recently, we have fox cubs collapse and start shutting down and are jaundiced then we have to be concerned.

Concerned because, as I discovered by talking to rescues, "this happens every years" and some vets state canine hepatitis is to blame -having not carried out any tests- or "adenovirus which is rampant in UK foxes".  After all of the foxes examined to date there has not been one single case of adenovirus so it is far from "running rampant". All of the symptoms described from previous years as well as 2024 match what we have seen and found to be leptospirosis. If this is happening every year then it explains, in part, why fox numbers are dropping so low.

Our question is: can we do anything about it?  Vaccinating every fox we can find is expensive an no government would fund a massive trap, vaccinate and release programme. This appears to be an environmental situation and the death of so many cubs is yelling this at us.

The question then becomes what if anything we can do about the environmental problem.  We may have goner too far and ignored problems for far to long to be able to do anything. Even if, as the British Trust for Ornithology suggested after its mammal survey, the fox is Red Listed as a protected species (meaning nothing in the UK) what can we do?

Poisons, cars and environmental damage are already taking their toll which, with the badger heading toward the precipice and foxes declining in numbers it is very likely that both will either become extinct in the countryside and just about hang on in towns and cities where developers are always out to grab scenic green sites to build on and destroy more wildlife habitat.

Looking at what is happening to foxes is therefore very important.  The question is whether people will learn from what we find and take action?

An explanation of leptospirosis can be found here along with the fact that  the fox is not the problem here

https://foxwildcatwolverineproject.blogspot.com/2024/08/leptospirosis-why-is-it-killing-so-many.html

Two captive-bred wildcats die after their release

 Firstly to correct the glaring error. In 1897 Scottish naturalists including one who had spent 45 years studying the species, declared that true Scottish wild cats had died out c 1860s like a number of other species due to hunting.  We have the taxidermy of some of the last wild cats although even these were likely hybridised.  

What is being released are wild tabbies. These are bred from imported European wild cats which themselves are likely hybridised and not related to true British wild cats.  Even if you were able to stop game keepers and land owners killing wild cats (the law is so feeble that irt cannot) there are the 'fun shooters' who do want to have a wild cat they have killed in their photo album.   

The other big threat that never existed to wild cats in the UK until the 1920s is the motor vehicle. Roads criss-cross every part of the UK and cut through woodland and forestry and very few drivers give a damn about any animal on "their" road.

That one had starved shows that it was not ready or suitable for release.  Introducing and NOT re-introducing (you cannot "re-introduce" a foreign species as a species that ceased to exist in the mid 19th century) wild cats is doomed to failure because of the human factor -whether 'fun', 'vermin control' or car.  Those scheduled for the Somerset Levels where night time shooting is nightly are also doomed.

From the 1980s-late 1990s European wild cats were being released in pairs across England in an unauthorised project.  We have no idea how many survived although I occasionally hear of them.

Once a species is extinct it should be used to teach a lesson. We only have foxes, certain deer and other wildlife because hunting killed off native species and imported more from Europe to continue the 'sport'.   This basically well known historical fact is what academics ignore deliberately (for funding reasons) or are ignorant of as they have never carried out any type of historical research and so when they find European DNA in a species they publish data which is incorrect or shall we say false.

Extinction is forever as we are about to see with a number of UK species including badgers and foxes.

Two Scottish wildcats raised in captivity before being released into the Cairngorms National Park have died.

Saving Wildcats project said one of the females, called Midge, was knocked down on a road.

It said the second, named Oats, died of starvation four weeks after her release.

The cats could be tracked by their GPS radio collars and were found by park rangers.

Saving Wildcats, whose partners include Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), NatureScot and the park authority, said Oats was in an area unlikely to have enough prey for her to feed on.

Supplementary food had been left in the area where she had been released, but she had not returned there.

Almost 30 wildcats have been released in the Cairngorms since last year as part of an effort to prevent the animals from vanishing from Scotland.

In the wild the species is extinct or on the brink of extinction, according to research.

Saving Wildcats said this year's release had been challenging due to bad summer weather.

But it said Midge's stomach was found to be full of voles and mice, suggesting she had been doing well before she was killed.

The project's Dr Helen Senn said life in the wild for animals was "incredibly challenging".

She said: "Immediately after release they are particularly vulnerable as they learn to adapt to their new life in the wild, to locate themselves in their environment, to learn about threats, and to become efficient hunters.

"Nobody is more saddened by the loss of these animals than the people working with them, because a lot of care is put into providing each released animal with the best chance possible."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy571ppg9no#:~:text=Almost%2030%20wildcats%20have%20been,of%20extinction%2C%20according%20to%20research.

Fox Dispersal and Fighting

 Now that we are in dispersal season for foxes there can be fighting between dog foxes as they try to claim a territory.  There have been two new reports from Brislington and Downend areas of Bristol that are being dealt with by Sarah Mills, starting with a 10 day antibiotic treatment.  

Facial wounds are not rare as it is the way dogs attack by snapping and tearing at each other -it is a clear sign when sheep have been attacked by dogs.  Left untreated these wounds can become infected.

Both are dog foxes and I have witnessed the "boxing" and open mouth challenging foxes do and twice had to break it up as it was getting to the "no one is backing down" stage and it was in a garden so bloodshed being allowed was not on.

This back wound looks rather nasty and I have seen similar on dogs that have been involved in fighting each other.

Both fights were witnessed (hence out being able to rule out a dog being set onto the fox) and luckily Sarah Mills was sent images. This means that she can now begin both foxes on a 10 day antibiotics.   If you see similar then please let your local rescue know as soon as possible.

Another Jaundice Case But What About Elsewhere?

 I wrote yesterday that most of the foxes we had submitted from Bristol have been proven or suspected (awaiting test confirmation) leptospirosis.  

Today Sarah Mills, the Bristol Fox Lady, was called out to a fox that had collapsed in a garden.  Taking the fox to a vet to be put down Sarah found that the vet was one she had dealt with before and who came from Europe to practice. Having put the fox down the vet checked and stated that it "smelt of lepto" (yes, lepto does smell apparently).  The vet, herself, suggested submitting the fox for post mortem examination.

This will be our 13th (it would be 14th but one was a facial injury case) fox submitted since May.  We have one rescue willing to submit similar foxes if they get them but one wildlife hospital in the SE will not cooperate as, with absolutely no tests carried out or foxes submitted, their vet says it is all Canine hepatitis which is clearly not the case. 

We have the rescue in the North and we cover Bristol so having rescues collaborate in Scotland and the SE of England would give us a good overview.  What we see in Bristol should be what we find across the UK. But we need the post mortems and confirmation. If what I have learnt is correct then this is happening each year and taking its toll on cubs.

 It may well be why fox numbers are declining and because "It's just a fox" no one has ever bothered recording fox deaths or had post mortems carried out. 

Leptospirosis is a rare bacterial infection that can affect animals and humans. Symptoms in animals depend on the host species, the strain of the bacteria, and the animal's age and health. Some symptoms include: 

• Muscle pain: Most often in the calves and lower back 
  
• Gastrointestinal issues: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain 
  
• Jaundice: Yellowing of the skin and eyes  
• Urination: Passing very little urine, or a lot more than usual 
  
• Skin rash: A symptom of leptospirosis 
  
• Red and irritated eyes: A symptom of leptospirosis  

Some animals with leptospirosis may not have any symptoms. In severe cases, the infection can progress to Weil's disease, which can cause kidney failure, breathing problems, meningitis, confusion, and bleeding.  

Leptospirosis is spread through the urine of infected animals. Animals can become infected by eating infected body tissues or organs, or by being born to an infected mother. Most foxes we are alerted to as having collapsed and are found to be shutting down with yellowing to eyes, gums and skin and if you smell the fox you might detect a foul odour.

If you are a rescue and come across such a fox please ask a vet to take a blood sample before it is PTS and submit to your local APHA Post Mortem Centre. Every fox we can examine may help us to find out what is going on in the population.

Thanks

Six PM Reports

 Today I received the 6th (of 12) post mortem report on fox cubs submitted after they collapsed and whose systems were shutting down with jaundice present. 

Out of the six  cases one was a case of "mismothering" -ie the fox was not looked at so likely orphaned. Another was a case we are still looking into but involves enteritis. Four of the cases were acute leptospirosis. It looks as though the remaining six will also fall into the lepto category but until we have a completed PM report we say nothing definite.

A rescue in Northern England has stated that any similar cases in their area will be submitted for PM which means we will see if results from the North match the SW. It would be nice to get similar arranged for the SE of England but in this business you go with what happens!

Once we have the full twelve PM reports they will be covered in a report separate to the main PM study cases.

Australia Out To Slaughter Feral Cats Again -But It's "Fun"

This is how the Australian NSW Parks and Wildlife Service promoted their planned killing spree:

" Do you want to join us and help stop feral cats killing our native wildlife? We are recruiting people to join our first-ever dedicated feral cat control team!

Every year, feral cats kill around 1.5 billion native animals across Australia. They are a key cause of Australia having the worst mammal extinction record in the world and are a direct threat to over 200 at-risk species.

After three good rain seasons in western NSW, feral cat numbers are up and will be putting huge pressure on threatened species populations in #NSWParks. To tackle this problem, we are establishing a team of expert feral cat controllers to protect threatened animals like the yellow-footed rock wallaby, dusky hopping-mouse, grey grasswren, and Barrier Range dragon.

Experience with hands-on control of feral cats and a commitment to the safe operation of firearms and animal welfare are essential for these roles. The team members will undertake ground shooting, baiting and trapping as well as managing remote sensors and cameras."

It is almost phrased as a "Come along and have some fun" invitation. Firstly; "Billions" -not the usual over exaggerated "millions" as Australia loves to over exaggerate so its 1.5 billion" and every year. Who is doing the counting or is this just one of those "we know ten of those were killed so if we pretend we have this number of feral cats and multiple that again as well as what might have been killed we come up with aq ridiculous and unprovable figure" type things?

1.5 billion over a 12 year period totals out to...... 18000000000  animals killed.  So...Australia only has starving feral cats left? 

Trap, neuter and release has always been found to be the best way to cut down feral cat populations where needed.

Foxes and cats in Australia are snared, shot, poisoned , electrocuted and worse and people are then shocked that with two main predators killed off there are "plagues" (again over exaggeration as you can have an explosion ion the rodent population but plague is a disease so illiteracy there) of mice and rats and rabbits.

The native wild canid, the Dingo, is still being killed. Why? Because like the thylacine or Hokkaido wolf or the Falkland Islands wolf it's fun and a good scapegoat for what humans have done.

Birds, reptiles and many other animals are being killed yearly BY humans in Australia and that includes by aboriginal peoples but human kill rate intentional or collateral) is never even looked at.

Choosing cats (and foxes) as a scapegoat species and seemingly advertising the event as great fun is pointless.

Australia, as any real Australian naturalist will tell you, and I was told by several many years ago, does not have as good record when it comes to conservation and protecting species -they call it "The Blood Red Continent".

Once the cats and foxes are killed off which animal will get the blame then - the koala?

You cannot eradicate one or two introduced species which are now native because it is convenient and distracts from what humans are doing. A balance needs to be struck. Am I accusing humans over animals?

In the Great Emu War of 1932, the Australian military went to war against a species of flightless bird. And lost. The emu, a large flightless bird, is one of the national symbols of Australia. Now that is historical fact.

Eradication of dingoes almost succeeded and they are native.

Ordering thousands of kangaroos to be killed or ordering thousands of camels killed by shooting from helicopters. Facts and no feral cat involved.

None of it does any good. It needs serious and intelligent discussion. Using a flame-thrower to kill mice is not humane or nice. Nature reaches a balance and Predators take care of Prey so Dingoes, foxes and cats will kill rabbits and mice as part of their regular and standard diet. Other animals are opportunistic and it may just be that Australia needs to look up the word "Evolution". For many, many millennia new species arrive and the older either adapt their life style and habits or are slowly replaced. Natural selection.

When it comes to wanton killing off of species the biggest threat are humans. Feral cats kill (a very dubious figure) 1.5 billion a year.

The most recent data about land animals bred, kept and slaughtered for consumption has revealed a figure higher than ever before: An estimated 92.2 billion land animals are kept and slaughtered annually in the global food system, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization.

An estimated 1.6 trillion wild animals are killed by humans every year. Tonnes of animals such as elephants and pangolins are trafficked yearly. For 'fun' not for food.

But do not worry because, as vermin, however, the human race is attempting to successfully eradicate itself as a species.

Oh....

Nature Conservation Council of NSW

@naturensw

·

Nov 18, 2022

We just found out that the people of NSW have spent another $9 million over the past year subsiding the native forest logging industry in NSW. Scenes in the video below are unfolding everyday across the state, destroying critical wildlife habitat. It's a disgrace.

Check out NCC NSW Twitter feed

Foxes Have Better Chances To Survive Now -Are People Learning?

 Recently Sarah Mills, the Bristol Fox Lady, celebrated over 500 foxes treated and recovered as well as having to rescue a sparrowhawk and later release it.  It is an unpaid job that she takes seriously and never gives up on.   

Under the previous regime covering Bristol all of the 500+ foxes would have been put down based on very ill thought out criteria not taking the animal into real consideration. The work is, as noted, unpaid, but has all of the work paid off?   

At a recent conference senior vets had noted that the number of reported fox mange cases in Bristol had dramatically decreased and they were stumped. Most did not know of Sarah's work which includes treating foxes in situ with great success.  

Each year I would get report after report of foxes with mange -sometimes daily.  Now I get "I have a fox with some mange" and I pass those along to Sarah knowing that will give them a better chance to survive. A totally hairless fox was treated in situ and has recovered and has a new coat. One that had crusting skin has recovered and has new fur.  From a Day Book full of reported and put to sleep foxes "because" they had "30%" mange I now only deal with reported dead foxes -sadly we cannot stop cars although after much pestering local authorities have helped reduce wildlife road deaths on one stretch of a busy road.

It is an ongoing fight with no funding but with Sarah treating the sick and injured foxes and our study finding out more about fox health it seems things are changing and, I hope, foxes are being taken more seriously and their care and treatment improved.