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.