Can We Help Stop Mange and Ticks?

  

What can you do to prevent mange/ticks?

Hayley de Ronde wrote a quite long post of treatment and what is/is not legal and she notes:

"Zoopharmacognosy or pharmacophagy (remedy-eating) is a behaviour in which non-human animals self-medicate by selecting and ingesting or topically applying plants, insects, soil or mineral stones/dust in order to prevent or reduce the harmful effects of pathogens, parasites and toxins.

Applied Zoopharmacognosy is the veterinary-supervised practice of utilizing plants, herbal remedies, essential oils, botanical preparations and tinctures in order to alleviate animal pain, injury and disease.

An example of zoopharmacognosy is when animals eat grass to induce vomiting or dust bathe to ward off parasites. Planting parasite-busting, immune-boosting plants in your garden can go a long way in helping your local wildlife to help themselves, without the need to seek veterinary advice.

Canid-safe, parasite-busting, immune-boosting plants:

Mugwort, Garden Cress, Dandelion, Broadleaf Plantain, Milk Thistle, Chamomile, Fennel, Turmeric, Chicory, Chervil, Carrot, Celeriac, Pumpkin, Wild Oats, Barley, Rye, Hibiscus, Blackberry, Rosehip, Wild Strawberry, Blueberry, Mulberry, Gooseberry, Juniper, Elderberry, Coriander, Parsley, Rosemary, Thyme, Sage, Peppermint, Sweet Basil, Lemon Balm, Sunflower, Valerian and Dill.

Parasite-repelling plants:

Arnica, Aloe Vera, Astrenia, Anise, Wormwood, Rue, Rosemary, Chamomile, Fleabane, Fleawort, Sweet Bay, Mint, Lavender, Wild Garlic, Chives, Pennyroyal, Pyrethrum, Sage, Citronella, Marigolds, Scented Geraniums, Beebalm and Catmint.

Dust baths:

Mites are the most common ectoparasite found on wildlife and pets, but researchers from the University of California have devised a way for people to provide their animals some respite from the dreaded itch, by coming up with a clever way to control them - bags of brimstone. Using a large sand pit filled with bark and mulch, it could also work for foxes,

“Sulfur dust has been used for decades to control mites... The sulfur is usually provided to chickens in a “dust bath,” essentially a box of dust, which may contain fine dirt, sand, diatomaceous earth, insecticides and other powdery substances [e.g. charcoal/cool ash].”

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is made up of tiny fossilised water plants that are ground into a fine white powder that can be used orally, topically or environmentally. It is an eco-friendly, organic pesticide that works in a purely mechanical manner and because it is not chemical in its action, it has no chemical toxicity and parasites cannot build up a tolerance or immunity to it. However, if inhaled in large quantities it can cause irritation to the lungs, so use considerately and as directed by the manufacturers.

It is reported to kill 75% of flies and fleas that come in contact with it within 72 hrs and is effective for eliminating flies, fleas, mange mites, ticks, slugs and snails.

USING NUTRITION TO PROMOTE HEALTH

If you have sick foxes visiting your garden that you are unable to capture or treat, then providing the right supplementary diet for a short period, can go a long way to helping them fight off the problem.

Always seek advice from a veterinary or wildlife organisation before using diet to promote health and welfare in wild animals. This ensures animals do not suffer unnecessarily and that you are in compliance with the best practices available, which can only benefit fox welfare.

Parasite-busting, Immune-boosting foods include:

Manuka Honey

Honey has been used to benefit health for centuries and its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties have gained increasing scientific awareness in the light of increasing microbial resistance. Honey protects the body against damage caused by bacteria. Some honeys also boost production of special cells that can repair tissue damaged by infection.

Not all honey is the same however, the antibacterial quality of honey depends on several factors, some kinds may be 100 times more potent than others.

Pumpkin and Papaya Seeds

Pumpkin and papaya seeds are great parasite cleaners, containing the amino acids curcurbitin and carica, which work to paralyze and eliminate parasites from the animal's digestive tract. Feed the seeds whole or grind them up and add it to food.

For dogs, it is suggested to use one-quarter teaspoon of pumpkin seeds per 4kg of body weight, once or twice daily until the parasites are gone.

Probiotics

Probiotics are demonstrated to be efficient for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory infections, and allergic symptoms, and also can kill or inhibit pathogens by strain-specific mechanisms relying on competition, molecule secretion, and/or immune induction.

ProPlan’s Fortiflora is a complementary pet food with live probiotics, available from vets and pet stores. It contains live "friendly" bacteria that help maintain intestinal health and balance, and a healthy immune system. Provides palatability enhancement for animals with poor appetite and helps maintain faecal quality. Use as directed on the packet.

Please note that all indications do not preclude appropriate medical management, veterinary diets should always be used under veterinary supervision.

Protein Supplements

Oxbow Animal Health’s Critical Care (for Carnivores) is a complementary pet food with omega fatty acids and essential proteins, available from vets and pet stores for convalescing animals. To be used as directed on the packet.

Please note that all indications do not preclude appropriate medical management, veterinary diets should always be used under veterinary supervision.

Garlic and Sulphur Rocks

Garlic contains over 33 sulphur compounds and sulphur is known to aid in the treatment of mange. Must be used sparingly, as garlic can be toxic to animals in large quantities or concentrations.

A 2008 report published by the National Research Council, was unable to determine the safe upper limit of garlic intake for dogs, cats and horses, but it could “use available research to recommend a range of acceptable intakes according to historical safe intakes (HSI) and estimated presumed safe intakes (PSI)”.

Based on a clove weighing 3 g, the PSI for dogs 20-35kg, it is the equivalent to approx.1/2 clove per day. For a 5-6kg cat, it is 1/25 clove per day.

You can also try Sulphur Rocks, for use in an additional water bowl. A traditional product, used by generations of animal owners as a tonic. One tub contains small lumps of bright-yellow sulphur. Place one piece in the water of the animal’s drinking bowl and replace with a fresh piece every three or four days.

Oatmeal

Oats are classified as one of the world’s healthiest foods. “They are nutrient-dense and provide sustained energy. Even when oats are hulled, they still retain all their fiber and nutrients. Oats contain manganese, selenium, tryptophan, phosphorus, vitamin B1, dietary fiber, magnesium, and protein.

Oats, oat bran, and oatmeal contain a special type of fiber called beta-glucan, shown to lower cholesterol, helping to reduce the risk of heart disease, and supporting the immune system’s response to bacterial infections, viruses, fungi, and parasites.”

Mineral Blocks

Tick and Parasite Licks are natural mineral supplements containing a broad spectrum of nutrients to help keep an animal’s nutritional needs balanced. Incorporated into these supplements are unique and beneficial diatoms, (see Diatomaceous Earth, below). These natural remedies have proven beneficial in boosting an animals immune system and helping animals resist disease and parasites.

Activated Charcoal

Using charcoal for medicinal purposes has a long history, particularly for detoxifications purposes. More recently, activated charcoal has been used to treat toxic ingestions and continues to be a form of gastrointestinal decontamination for poisoned patients, both human and animal.

Activated charcoal is a great way to rid an animal of any toxins which they may have consumed. Activated charcoal binds to the toxic substance which decreases the risk of an animal suffering from any potentially poisonous or toxic substance.

Diatomaceous Earth

Medical researchers are gradually becoming aware of the nutritional importance of Diatomaceous Earth (DE). Silica is one of the most important trace elements in the body and is crucial for numerous bodily functions and aiding mineral absorption.

Diatomaceous Earth is an effective detoxifier and on a microscopic level, when ingested, these tiny, sharp particles move through the body's systems, attracting everything from bacteria, fungi, protozoa, viruses, endorphins, pesticide and drug residues. Use as directed on the product and product information leaflet."

I have to admit that I have changed my own policy on how to treat a fox with mange and no longer recommend homeopathic drops unless the advice and drops come from a source that has a vet approve the treatment.

Hayley has actually come in for a lot of nasty comments regarding her post but I can tell you that she is NOT anti-fox and is pointing out the law as it stands.

There are people who sell pharmaceutic treatments who are not veterinarians or qualified to do so. I get to see the disasters first hand. One person has tablets from someone to treat a fox with mange and because of the secrecy in feeding foxes does not know anpother lady to the rear of her property is also treating. In the end, after my advice was ignore, the fox got worse and Secret World had to trap, treat and then release the fox back to the original site.

I have seen people using drops that are not working and the foxes involved look as though they may be on the verge of organ failure. The people involved will NOT contact a rescue and believe it is a "super mange" -it is NOT. It is that the infection is too far gone for drops to help and rescue and treatment is needed.

I have no idea how many foxes die through being given a poor treatment or tablets someone sold them. I have two post mortem reports on foxes that died from mange and scabies -I often think that people need to see the post mortem photos that I get to see.

If we can cut back grass and plant the right things (I am already ordering plants mentioned) then we may be able to cut back the number of mange cases.

People on this group will have seen foxes with bad mange and some of you like me will have seen the sudden decline and horrible deaths. What smashed my face into a concrete wall was seeing a very young fox cub (a few weeks old) that I could not catch and realising that it was on its dying legs.

We are supposed to be a nation of animal lovers so, please, let's change our "fox habits" and see if we can do the right thing.

Hayleys full article can be found here

https://onlinefoxforum.wixsite.com/foxes/forum/health-and-behaviour/homeopathy-and-foxes?fbclid=IwAR0JHhLgv1ZWqmQrtDINpEeSWy0omrjcZYgbdPxDnNSR-gN4SPrcGmEbHcs

Dead Badgers. Dead Foxes. The Lack of Cooperation is NOT Coming From Officials

 

 I just posted this to the three main Bristol groups: Bristol Nature Network, Bristol Naturalists and Bristol and Surrounding Area Wildlife. This is me getting a tad angry.

As it seems some local group (Friends of Eastville Park) has decided to block my post on the serious matter of badger deaths and unidentified blue material found there (in fact all my comments seem to have gone) I have had enough.

So here is what I wrote:

Hello.

If possible, please indulge me, I would like to make certain points as it seems that no one is really that intersted in larger carnivores in Bristol. However, they are interested in spreading lies and rumours for their own reasons.

I am a field naturalist and mammalogist of over 40 years and in that time I have never given out anything confidential. From 1977-2015 and my semi retirement I was a UK police forces wildlife consultant and I still very rarely talk about that work.

I have stated repeatedly that the locations of badger setts and fox dens should not be publicly publicised, as I am now, so I am told, also and environmentalist-conservationist if I cannot be trusted with information then who can?

I do not pass info to DEFRA as I strongly disapprove of the badger culls. The work stays with myself and to date I have looked at four Bristol badger deaths and my colleague Zoe Webber has been out today to look at another badger reported dead. So we have recorded FOUR dead badgers as well as unusual substance that the local park group appears to want to remain silent on (even removing my comments on the matter it seems.

The British Fox Study (f. 1976) has aFox Deaths Project that I fought hard to get going and have an official [pathologist carry out post mortems. We are making headway with that and what we are finding out about foxes and how they die, etc.

Since at least the 1990s (when I dropped the study) no one has been keeping track of badgers in the Cityu, where their setts are and checking whether any deaths are natural, RTA or something else.

I have been sounding the warning bell on snaring in and around the City -the fact that an official post mported listed this as cause of death appears to have raised no interest.

I have warned about a number of threats to badgers and foxes and yet I am not to be trusted? Where are all the naturalists specialising in foxes and badgers because I could certyainly do with help -this is an unfunded effort and yet for at least nine months cooperation from naturalist groups and wildlife groups in and around the City has been non existent.

To those who have helped in any way -THANK YOU.

I DO NOT work for DEFRA and am not "scoping pout badger setts" nor am I trying to locate fox dens for some fantasy "extermination plan". Ask DEFRA and aalso Bristol City Council who have been obstructive just how "in their pocket" I am.

My concern is for the welfare of the wildlife -foxes and badgers in particular- and any threats against them. I reject newspaper,TV and radio interviews so as to NOT draw attention to myuself or my work.

I work 18+ hours a day on this and all year round. Therefore if anyone wishes to make any claims please post them on group so that they can be dealt with.

Thank You

But then the Friends of Eastville Park group got in touch about my posts on the dead badgers and unidentified blue substance.

"Friends of Eastville Park:

"Hi . We are waiting on a protocol for reporting from BCC (Bristol City Council -THS). As evidenced on the thread, there is some confusion on the most effective way of having corpses removed. We have agreed with council that a clear policy would work best and once we have it, we will produce a simple poster for the park and feature it at the head of our group page.

Facebook being what it is, messages drop down and get quickly forgotten so this approach will guarantee that it reaches everyone. Once we have it,

I'll invite you to input regarding your request to be contacted and we'll include it on the poster- that way, all the info will be in one place.

Comments from various members were deleted due to them containing guesses dressed up as facts which might alarm people. The thread was also getting quite lengthy and the original subject was getting a bit lost so we restricted comments at that point.

We'll get a simple, definitive message out there- it always works best."

To which I rsponded:

"Hello. As I pointed out I established the protocol re dead carnivores in Bristol and their collection and post mortem examination where possible. BCC has NO protocol other than pick up and incinerate -it will not even after a year clarify to worried allotment owners the situation re rat poison on allotments.

I will be leaving the group as obviously my opinion and experience on this matter is of no interest"

Committees that sit on their asses and wait for Bristol City Council will still be waiting in a year. The UK National Carnivore Advisory/The British Fox Study spent months fighting for dead foxes to be officially examined after death. We are prepared to do the same for badgers -my colleague Zoe Webber was out earlier today checking on another dead badger in an area close to the Park (too decomposed).

So long as people want to sit on their hands let them. Both Zoe and myself will deal with dead foxes and badgers as they are reported and if we come across any unidentified substance I will be sure that it gets examined officially.

Again, to those who HAVE helped in some way, even reporting dead animals -THANK YOU

(Ashton) Vale Wildlife Group

 For anyone in the Ashton Vale area there is a new Face Book page though from a 28 year old group!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/315237280619688

Dead Fox and Dead Badgers -a Connection? Update

Apparently my warning post to Frieds of Eastville Park Face Book group will not be published. I have been told that this is because of a number of things:

1.  Bristol City Council has refused to analyse the blue substance found as it is "probably harmless". One wonders why the "fighters for the environment" council always fudges around when poison is mentioned? Also there is protected wildlife in the Park and that inc;ludes the badgers a protected species.

2. "We are also trying to establish if the last two badgers found were one and the same or not." Well, I established that the two January badger reports were of the same crcasse as no one had reported it to Bristol City Council; I reported it to the head of the team and it was collected. The one from a couple days ago makes three dead badgers.

I have contacted the Animal Plant Health Advisory regarding the substance to see what they advise.

I have also pointed out that the council collects and incinerates and that in the first instance I should be contacted and any photos taken forwarded to assess whether a post mortem -and exception- can be carried out to find the cause of death. I also highlighted the need for local cooperation.

We have someone locally so should another dead badger turn up then WE will deal with it.

__________

I am only one person and in a City as big as Bristol we need the people to keep an eye on the environment as well as wildlife. No one was interested in fox deaths and I had to fight for months before post mortems were approved and those are yielding results.

As I have outlined in other posts we are not currently carrying out post mortems on badgers but it may prove necessary.

I posted this on 1st November: Just seen this is messages from this morning: 

"Hello Terry, I’m also a member on the BS16 wildlife group and thought you may be able help. Yesterday morning I spotted (and picked up) what I believe to be a fox poo on Clarence Avenue BS16 filled with a blue substance (colour of rat poison / slug killer). I thought you’d be the person to message as I see you’ve done some investigations of fox distribution over the years and I also have read there have been a lot of suspicious fox deaths lately. I usually don’t post on public pages, but would you recommend I share this in the local FB groups too so people are aware? Thank you, Madeline"

And 2nd Nov:"If you live in BS10 or BS16 please pass the word along. We have no idea what the pellets are but they are obviously being consumed and put out deliberately in an area noted for unusual fox deaths this year. 

I have today contacted South Cloucestershire Council as well as the council environmental department. The lady who reported the blue pelleted scat yesterday was walking along Hermitage Road when she found more (see photo). This now seems to be deliberate baiting and could result in fox, badger or hedgehog death or even the death of a domestic pet.

 Wildlife Incident Investigation Schemwe as well as the chief pathologist at the University PM Services have now been informed, Unfortunately we have no one that could collect the droppings at the moment to hand over to Langford Veterinary School. If you are out and about and spot more of this please alert everyone on group if you can. Thank you

22 Jan Eastville Park: "Does anyone know what this is? Located at the end of Everest Road entrance to the park. There was a lot more of it. I cannot be sure, but it looks like rat poison. Dog walkers beware."

 

South Glos council had no interest in the blue substance despite the possible implications. I have just posted to Friends of Eastville Park asking whetherthey submitted the substance for analysis and as what poisoned the recent fox -bromadiolone- comes in blue pellets I asked anyone spotting blue material to have it removed and stored and get it submitted for analysis. Might just be coincidence but they have a group keeping an eye on the park so just sitting on their asses is not good enough.

I have just posted to Friends of Eastville Park and asked about the pellets again. Last December a badger was found dead near the lake. In January another dead badger was found near the Park entrance pathway. Yesterday (03 02 2022) a third dead badger was found. Natural causes?

Today I had a post mortem report on a Bristol fox found dead at the end of January:

" it is likely that this fox died from exposure to bromadiolone, given the size of this residue and that there were also haemorrhagic findings on post-mortem. The brodifacoum is at a background level only. The source of the bromadiolone is uncertain."

The poison mentioned comes in blue pellet form.

If you find blue pellets near wildlife corridors or anything suspicious report it to the RSPCA or police as a potential wildlife crime.

The Problem of Dead Badgers

 

We are in the position where Bristol has a number of local wildlife groups and three main naturalist groups yet no one has been dealing with badgers. I tried in the 1990s and then 2000s to try to locate the legendary Bristol Badger Watch but Avon Wildlife trust told me they thought it was defunct and the address which led back to the RSPCA was also a dead end.

 After recent badger deaths at one central location it became clear not many people knew about badgers in the City and none, other than some fox feeders who also had badgers on their property, knew of their activity. A dead badger raised alarm calls. A second, which turned out to be the first, started panic talk of a poisoner or disease.

Before we get into any of that let me explain Bristol.

Hanham, Kingswood, Fishponds, Oldbury, Knowle and other areas of the City and County were all once villages -my grandfather, Bill, was born in the village of Hanham just before World War 1 and it was only much later that the extensive rebuilding after WW 2 that a lot of the villages were considered part of the City (Kingswood is in Bristol but due to county boundary changes it is now covered by South Gloucestershire!).

All of these areas that were once countryside villages have maintained green spaces and those are still being fought over to prevent Bristol City Council building on them. Some of the areas are just off the Central Bristol area and badgers have been there...many, many decades despite being surrounded by busy roads.

Most people are shocked that there are "urban badgers" but to be honest they probably had no interest in local wildlife to start with. Whether they see DEFRA (because of culls -though Bristol badgers were innoculated- over TB fears), the snarers, unhinged anti-badger lunatics (oh I have heard of the man wants to kill local badgers and foxes to "Protect my children"!) or badger baiters, those who keep an eye on badgers and their setts do so in as much secrecy as possible to protect them.

In 2021, despite locals in Lockleaze explaining to the council and contractors, right in the middle of breeding season (February to May), badger setts and fox dens, long established, were destroyed. "They'll find somewhere else" is not a justification for what was blatantly a wildlife crime that no one took action over.

Yesterday I was contacted by someone who was observing established badger setts having all ground cover removed which revealed the entrances. I gave advice and asked where the setts were to contact the Avon and Somerset Police wildlife crimes officer -nothing. Today (04 02 2022) I have been told the incident has been reported. However, despite asking again, it seems I am not to be privvy as to "where".  As an update; the person has contacted me and sent photos of the cut back and location and the setts are in a known, established, badger area. 

Above: Badger 1 and badger 2 -actually the same badger that had been moved

The location within Bristol that I am looking at is a huge park. Initially two dead badgers were reported in January but it turns out that someone had moved the dead badger (which no one should do!) and despite people saying they had...no one had reported it to the Council Street Clean team. So just the one. This week a second badger has been found dead and I am now informed that another was reported as being found dead last December.

Is this a normal death rate amongst adult badgers (there are three setts in the area)? What can we do to find out?

Not a lot.

Because of what are seen as the possible biohazard (TB) Health & Safety does not permit post mortem examinations on badgers unless under very specific circumstances. There was to be evidence of some form of wildlife crime or disease and at this point the pathologist would be willing to carry out a PM examinations but outside in his garden due to the possible biohazard.

Badger no. 2 (2022)

Here is where the problems start. Firstly, unlike a dead fox you cannot  simply put it in a black bin liner to transport (Zoe Webber who helps run the Fox Deaths Project is very experienced) to the path lab:

"The bacteriology may be limited but I can do histopathology. The PM will immediately help to rule out RTAs and if I have any suspicion of poisoning I hope NE (Natural England) will accept the samples for toxicology.  Obviously, whoever is collecting the badger should wear a mask, gloves etc and double bag the carcase. Iodophore disinfectant should be used but beware as it stains very easily as it’s iodine based. "

Therefore, if we did have suspicious deaths (say a 4th dead badger at the central location in the next couple of months) it would require someone able to follow procedures and transport any dead badger to the Somerset based pathologist. Could there be a commitment from any members of Bristol's naturalist groups to do this -bear in mind that dead mammals turn up at the most unsocial occasions -bank holidays etc and unlike foxes no lab is going to be willing to handle/chill or freeze a dead badger.

I can record deaths of badgers and that is about it. 

I can be contacted initially on Face Book via the UK National Carnivore Advisory or Bristol Foxes and Badgers pages.

____________________________________________________________________

*addenda to the badger sett destruction noted: "Just had a positive response from (witheld) owners a consortium to stop any developments. He is putting cover back around the set and says will leave alone, seems genuine mistake so give him benifit of doubt.