Have We Hit An Urban Wildlife Crisis Point?

 

After five decades of monitoring wildlife in Bristol, primary foxes and badgers, I have to say that I am very concerned.

In 1994/1995 the mage outbreak that hit Bristol's urban foxes devastated up the 94% of the population. That mange outbreak may well have been created but that is a question for another time.  The fox population eventually started recovering.

There is absolutely no doubt that since the 1990s drivers have gotten worse, speeding in city streets and narrow lanes is so common that few people even bother showing concern. Night time speeding is a problem everywhere but it seems almost normal across the City of Bristol. As a result more and more wildlife is dying: struck by cars and left for dead. When I showed the Fox and Badgers Death Register at the recent Wild Summit the comments were: "You hear about it but seeing the actual figures is staggering" and "Oh, that's awful".

Yet Bristol City Council refuses to even put up wildlife crossing signs and threaten those that do with legal action.

Added to this is the fact that there are very sick individuals who go out at night setting snares (two fox victims and an otter recorded so far).  Equally sick individuals go out out in all weather every night to shoot and kill wildlife -this shooting 'sport' is decimating not just fox populations (cubs and adults are killed with no interest whether a vixen killed will lead to orphaned cubs or even if the vixen is pregnant. All done with impunity even though the wildlife (and in some cases pets) are causing no problem.

We know that there are still local "badgermen" or shooters who will disp[ose of badgers "on the quiet" for farmers and others. Most badgers are dumped at the roadside and people ignore them as "road kill".

This all adds up so that, whatever you may hear from the countryside groups and pro hunt people (the latter every cub season spamming social media with tales of foxes killing pet ginger and white, black and white or elderly "much loved" cats) foxes are not -not- increasing in numbers. We have wildlife photographers from Wales visiting English towns because Welsh foxes are "non existent" thanks to decades of shooting, snaring and poisoning. 

Bristol's badger population may all be urbanbut it has to be remembered that what are now suburbs of the City were once small villages with their local badger setts and that means badgers have survived in these locations for more than a century. The threat to badgers does not just come from poisons and cars but the local authority. Aware and repeatedly informed of established badger sett territory Bristol City Council (a Green council) attempt to sell the land to developers when there is more than enough Brown Site areas to handle new housing.

Health wise we know more now than we did in 2020 as to what illnesses are affecting foxes and killing them (a small percentage compared to cars etc) but when it comes to badgers a block was placed on any post mortems being carried out under pretence of Health and Safety and risk from Bovine TB -all while official PMs WERE being carried out on badgers.

The fact is that I would love to believe that foxes and badgers were not being seen on roads and reported because none were being killed. However, looking at the yearly total for each species in the Death Register as well as hearing reports from people who are no longer seeing their badgers and foxes I suspect that a crisis point has been reached. 

The British Trust for Ornithology did a mammal survey and concluded that foxes might need Red Listing (protection as a species under threat) and their figures along with those of others invbolved in wildlife work very strongly suggest that England has lost over 60% of its fox population. I believe that it is higher and the percentage growing by the day.

We are losing the hedgehog as well as up to 30 other species and with an estimated 300,000 badgers killed during the cull (remember that is just from the cull not cars or other illegal killings) I estimate the UK badger popu;lation has gone beyond a crisis point. An the Welsh Parliament want to wipe out their badgers now.

It is mind numbing that politicians just shrug at these facts while counting "donations" from farmers groups and lobbyists.  Concern for wildlife and the environment that were so hip, cool and trendy and a MUST promote in interviews in the 1990s to early 2000s is now "People need homes" and "We need to develop as a country" and 95% of the population shrug and sit in front of the TV not caring.

The 1860s, thanks to humans and hunting, etc. created a mass extinction of UK wildlife from foxes, deer, wild cats, hares and many other species. The answer was to import more of them from Europe to "continue the sport" and this time round "Fewer wildlife better for more development and building!"

I Did My Best But No One Listened

 I've had three requests for help to try to stop construction work on green sites.

No.

I made my position clear: for 10 years I have been telling or suggesting that Bristol groups out to save green spaces unite as it makes it harder for the Council to approve development. The Longmoor site I asked the Save Ashton Vales Environment group to help highlight the wildlife and environment but their only concern was what it would all mean for their house prices.

I got stick for being too negative but what has happened? They've sneaked in and started construction on sites which means it is far too late to do anything.

I mentioned the grabbing of green sites to Avon Wildlife Trust ("we work with Bristol City Council", Friends of the Earth and other supposed environmental/save the countryside groups at the Wild Summit. Absolutely no interest what so ever. Just disinterest.

Badger setts at risk I'll look into but that's my unpaid job. Saving green spaces when l;ocals cannot be bothered....someone else's job.

On with the wildlife work.

The Wild Summit 2026 And A Day Wasted

 

I need to apologise to Bristol Fox Lady/Bristol Wildlife Rescue Sarah Millsfor dragging her to the so called Wild Summit. I printed out a small fortune (in ink) flyers and info packs to hand out.

Avon Wildlife Trust ("We work through Bristol City Council") were not interested in the fox and badger data. In fact, no one was interested in mammals whether otters, badgers, foxes (plenty of fox photos used though) or even hedgehogs. Bees, butterflies, wild flowers, water purity and conservation nd that was it.

Fella from the Badger Trust talking about setting up a Bristol Badger Group (8 times right next to me) so I jumped in every time and pointed out that I have run BBG since 1994/1995 but he kept it up and told me to my face he had heard of my fox work but not badger work. How good is the Badger Trust when they have had emails etc off me for 30 years and been told repeatedly over the last year there was a BBG? Kept trying to talk over me every time I was amking points based on years of research and work. Nope. Well not be cooperating wityh him or BT.

So making the countryside wild friendly but no one interested in wildlife crossings/tunnels.

Basically it was badly organised and had I paid £240 for a ticket there would have been trouble.

Oh West England .Wildlife Index was not that good. Their data was a mess they noted bird decline (mentioned 8 times as frightening) no idea about mammal decline or fish decline and then they told us how their data was basically not worth much as it needed another 5 years. I think Sarah probably heard my loud grunt as the woman in charge stated "We get data from naturalists but take it with a grain of salt" Talk about insulting the dying breed of people who go out getting the real data and muddied boots. I stopped myself from standing and walking out. I did feel sorry for one of the volunteers who stepped up to exp-lain the work she had been doing but got four heckles of "stand closer to the microphone" and she was nervous enough.

The RSPCA Senior scientific advisor stodd up and I just waited for her to say the great job the RSPCA does for wildlife but in the few minutes she spoke all I learnt was her field of work was tigers. Yes, foxes and badgers and British wildlife are silly so concentrate on ovrseas wildlife (which I am told the RSPCA is doing?!)

The ex copper who said we need better organisation, etc and some forces had no wildlife crime officer well...back into the early 2000s there were plenty of good PWLOs and senior officers were involved. Now we have a situations wth four wildlife crimes in the Bristol area (including a snared otter) and a fox torn up by a dog under the command of its owner and....nothing. We had three foxes found in one day on an allotment and the Wildlife officer visited the site and made notes and was offered the foxes to take (THAT should be standard) but he would not even go and look at the foxes and his notes ("intelligence") was it. THREE suspicious death foxes and the copper would not even look at them. Interestingly a PCSO did a better job and bagged up two foxes and a cat in a suspicious death case and submitted them for post mortems. Obviously the part time policeman had a better grasp of the job than the full time professional.

At times with 'quizzes", stickers, big sheets of paper and colour pens I felt I was back at Glenfrome Road nursery school.

Radio talks the event up well but there was NOTHING to the event just "We need to jolly well show the government by sending in a petition".

I do not likke rudeness or bad manners but that was also very evident at the event.

Basically an online petition appears to have been what was needed for most talks. That a great deal of the information was old -I have sources saying the same f thing from the 1980s and that was built on from 1970s work,

Field or any type of naturalist did not seem to be present. After a remark that anything from a naturalist was taken "with a pinch of salt" that was lucky.

I left thinking that I had lost two hours or so of my rapidly decling life anjd that working by myself seems the best way to go.

I was lucky that Sarah Mills was present as even she commented "Nothing on mammals? Not even hedgehogs!"

Maybe I should have had a table there to push mammals?

"Sentinel markers for ecosystem contamination"

 

 In the past fox post mortems have revealed plastic packaging in the stomachs of foxes which resulted in their deaths. We have been noting things that could point to a problem in the ecosystem and I was just informed of the latest PM result:

"Severe chronic renal histopathology confirmed but I’m uncertain of the case. Possibly the pathology might suggest and infarct but again any cause of this is uncertain. Summary: Severe chronic renal pathology of uncertain cause. "

In case you are wondering what the mplications are: Chronic exposure to environmental pollutants is associated with renal damage, potentially affecting longevity and health of wild fox populations. This is a sentinel marker for ecosystem contamination and really should not be ignored but, as I have said over the last five decades, no one is interested "just foxes".

It's sad that back in July I noted 182 foxes had been reported dead. The current figure two months later is 230

Facial Injury In Foxes CAN Be Treated

  The old rule under certain "rescue" was a fox with a facial injury HAD to be put down. Most vets would agree.

However, things in Bristol have changed. Likely an injury from a car swipe on the nearby busy road the fox was treated for around 9 weeks given pain relief and anti biotics. All treated in situ by Sarah Mills.

With a falling fox population at least this one now has a good chance.

above during treatment

Above after treatment

ASK Questions. Check Dead Animals

 

 Whether otters, foxes, badgers, pine martens or birds of prey be aware: killing them and dumping them by the side of the road is an old farmers trick.

Above: otter left at roadside. Car was stopped as it was thought to be a fox at first. Cause of death? Snaring

The Fox Death study found two fox snaring cases -both found by the roadside.

People seeing dead wildlife by the road assume all are road kill so why ask questions?

You SHOULD ask questions.

Tennis Club Kills Geese -membership costs, facilities and famous members seem more important

 I posted This Is What The UK Thinks of Wildlife and guess what?  Even more evidence. Natural England seem to sign off on animal death warrants (oops. "Cull licences") like people throw confetti at a wedding. Are they being paid for these licences?  Does anyone at NE even check personally on a situation before issuing a licence to kill wildlife -and this is far more common than people know- ?  Oh, the old "Health and public safety" excuse -the club spokesman uses the phrase a lot along with the crocodile tears and "we never wanted to do this"fakery.  

Name the "pest controller"/company who carried out the killings. 

Every night hundreds of men and women (including off duty police officers ("blue insurance") go out 'sport' shooting -foxes, deer, birds in fact anything "legal" or illegal for kicks. HOW can polirticians say we have the greatest gun control when morons rush out to shoot and kill every day?  And Natural England mentions declining species numbers (well, they try to avoid it unless it serves a purpose) and "environmental causes" but totally ignore the, uh, 'sportsmen' -the same type of people who wiped out so many UK species in the 19th cemtury -all through 'sport'.

Many thouysands of birds are killed by local authorities each year on, uh "health and safety" grounds. 300,000 badgers were killed (Wales wants to go for a cull next) based on fake science and health and safety issues.

The UK is simply anti wildlife and takes any opportunity (even without cars) to kill it -shooting, snaring, poisoning it goes on and on and everyone puts on the fake smiling face and "We LOVE Wildlife" badgeswhile hiding their blood stained hands behind their backs.

Geese and goslings at the club

Tennis club secretly asked marksman to shoot geese

https://uk.yahoo.com/news/tennis-club-secretly-asked-marksman-212527298.html

The Canada geese that visited St George's Hill had become a familiar sight, regularly appearing on the club's social media channels

Members of one of Britain's most prestigious tennis clubs have cried foul over the secret culling of a gaggle of geese.

They are "furious" after the management at St George's Hill Lawn Tennis Club in Weybridge, Surrey, called in a marksman to stop the birds making a mess of the courts.

Residents reported hearing a volley of gunshots shortly after sunrise and later learned that eight birds had been killed, including goslings, according to The Times.

The club, set on the exclusive St George's Hill estate, has long been associated with famous residents including John Lennon, Jenson Button and Sue Barker.

Members pay an annual fee of £2,664 on top of a £2,000 joining charge. In return, they have access to 34 courts, including grass, clay and indoor surfaces, as well as a swimming pool and clubhouse.

The club was also where Emma Raducanu won the UK Pro Series and the UK Pro Classic in 2020, a year before her US Open triumph.

It has previously embraced the Canada geese on its social media channels, sharing a photo last year of two young birds waddling, captioned: "We have baby goslings on our Lakeside Terrace!"

The year before, it posted a photograph of two adults and two goslings walking across a tennis court in wet weather, captioned: "Canadian geese family enjoyed the courts today."

An adult and gosling who were spared the cull on July 16 were allegedly "found in a distressed state the same day wandering the local area", according to a social media post.

It said: "The tennis club claim they were pests and murdered them by the club's lake, which they used as their home, much to the delight of the young and old club members. Such barbaric action in a situation where local wildlife organisations would have taken them in."

Members claimed the birds were part of the "beauty" of the club and that they were not consulted about the cull.

"The members have always liked the geese," one long-standing member said. "It is sometimes a bit annoying because they amble on to the courts and leave their poo.

"But that does not mean they had to be shot. It's a private estate and the residents are concerned about a firearm being brought in without any warning."

Another player added: "The club management ordered this because they felt the birds were making the courts messy. There was no consultation with the members. The club is in a beautiful setting and the birds were part of that."

One member claimed they were initially told the birds had been relocated, only to find out later that they had been shot.

"The Canada geese were adored and loved. They walked around the club at their own pace and sometimes held up the traffic, but nobody minded," they said.

"First we were told they had been rehomed and then that they had 'flown off'. The members and local residents are furious."

The shooting, which started at 5.25am, was carried out by a marksman operating under a Natural England licence permitting the culling of certain bird species to protect public health and safety.

Surrey Police said they were informed about the shooting at 5.18am by a pest controller.

Miles Hill, the club's chief executive, said: "We fully understand that some members and estate residents have been upset by what occurred.

"This was not a decision the club wished to take, nor one that was taken lightly. It followed many months of attempting to manage a growing resident population of Canada geese through enhanced cleaning and non-lethal measures.

"The decision was taken primarily on the grounds of public health and public safety.

"Despite extensive daily cleaning by multiple members of our grounds team, we were increasingly unable to keep pace with the volume of faeces being produced."

Mr Hill said it was important for the cull to remain secret so the operation could be carried out safely.

"The decision reflected a genuine desire to avoid causing unnecessary concern, distress or alarm over what was a lawful operational matter undertaken in the interests of public health and safety," he added.

He said the club had "reflected carefully" on the incident and was developing a wildlife management plan under which lethal control would remain a measure of "absolute last resort".

"The recent arrival of further Canada geese at the lake reinforces why the club's future focus will be on preventing geese from establishing themselves in heavily used member areas, rather than relying on relocation, which is neither a practical nor sustainable long-term solution," he said.

"Where members made inquiries to me about the absence of the geese, I responded directly, openly and honestly, explaining the reasons for the decision and the background that led to it."

Canada Geese were introduced to Britain in the 17th century and were recorded as part of King Charles II's waterfowl collection in St James's Park, central London, in 1665.

They are now well established in the UK, with the RSPCA placing their number at about 190,000.