Badger deaths reported

Above: this is the sight greeting so many rescuers when they answer calls. 

Badger deaths reported since starting the Bristol Badger Deaths Register:

2022  16

2023  56

2024  68

Total 140

Fox deaths reported since starting the Bristol Fox Deaths Register

2022    51

2023   263

2024   265

Total 579

I do not list unconfirmed deaths such as "I've seen two.on the way to work this year" or "I have passed dead foxes and badgers regularly" since, even asking, there is either no response or "Oh no idea what road it was on" and "saw a dead fox in a garden in Bedminster" with no details is not entered into the register.

A date and road or even area o0f Bristol at the very least is required.

Another problem we have is the "There's a dead pet cat on ---- road" and after much discussion someone from one of the pet groups will go out and check so that an owner can be told and "It's not a cat it's a badger" or "It's not a ginger cat it's a fox".  The problem is that no one ever stops to (A):check the animal IS dead not injured or (B) look to see if (in cub season) it is a vixen or sow lactating which is important as there may be cubs nearby who will starve to death and we have five "Mismothering" cub deaths listed for 2024 (mismothering means that the vixen has probably  been killed by a car and so cannot raise a cub(s).

When it comes to actual numbers killed those totals can probably be doubled.

Dead otters also need reporting asap as I only heard in late November 2024 that at least three had died and two rotted away while a third was collected and sent for incineration by the Council.

Again, we need a date, location and a photograph which can tell us a lot but also confirms that it is a genuine report -yes, we have been hoaxed in the past.

If people can pass the word along I can be contacted via FB Messenger and for any sick, injured foxes and badgers Sarah Mills (a Level 3 Wildlife Rescuer) can be initially contacted via messenger and her in situ treatment of foxes has helped over 500 foxes survive in the last two years.

Even as they stand now the fox and badger death totals should be concerning.