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.

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*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.

The British Canid Historical Society and Who We Are

 

I am quite sure that people are asking "Who is running this British Canids Historical Society?" and very likel "How are they qualified?"

For those people here is a little information -BCHS collaborators can be found listed on the page itself.

Firstly, we have the human dynamo and internet whiz...

https://www.blackfoxes.co.uk/

The next member of the trio is yet another female dynamo and naturalist and totally indispensable...

The next member of the BCHS is...me. Looking far more handsome and slimmer in this representation....

I can be found at this blog as well as the At Home With Wild Nature blog https://athomewithwildnature.blogspot.com/

Both Hayley and I contribute articles, news and research update on The Fox Forum

https://onlinefoxforum.wixsite.com/foxes/about

All of the work is paid for "out of pocket" since in the UK there is no funding for most wildlife work. There is a way to donate to help the work continue and, of course, we are always looking out for any unwanted specimens someone might like to donate.

Any questions we have a BCHS Face Book page where we can be contacted.

Trail Cam Roullette

 We are back to that warning about trail cams again.

This month I purchased two -the Xianhu-5

and this piece of junk

Would I recommend them? Absolutely NOT. Two "different manufacturers" and two different cameras.  Both with one fault and that is that they do not take any video footage.

The first type of camera can last around a year if you are lucky. I needed them for field work but I am looking at five of them right now that are in a corner that simply stopped taking images and video with one month or two months. I bought two this month from different Ebay sellers (yes, I know but Amazon has these priced at between £60-90 and other dealers are a little lower but pricey for how unreliable they are) and first one on the first night -nice images -just blank video. 

Instructions in Chinese with nonsensical English. long delay in responding. "We have contacted the Chinese manufacturer...usual rubbish. Eventually return the item. No refund but a replacement non working camera.

Two of the same type of camera from two (I am assuming that it is two seperate companies) and same problem. Faulty. Do not take the risk.

Second more expensive camera: exactly the same problem. Battery changes -nothing. Daylight -no video clips. I contacted the 'UK seller' and it took a long time for to get a reply and they did not understand "The video feature does not work"! So I explained (twice more) then I got the "We have been in touch with the manufacturer in China" (where, luckily, the seller is based -it has a UK warehouse NOT business) and I was sent instructions in Chinese on "what to do" then Chinese and English nonsense instructions. 

Finally I was asked to return the camera so I asked for the return postage to be paid as is stated on the item description. More delays so I send it back to them and tell them its on its way. "How much will it cost?" they asked. I said that it cost me £5.95 as I securely wrapped it. That was it.

A day or so later Ebay sends me a returns label to print out and too late. I have asked the seller if the camera has arrived yet (7 days)...no response.

Am I tempted to buy a more expensive camera? It will have been manufactured in China, too and the problems if you get one not working.... Like I say I have six here that are not working and one I took apart and all the wiring IS connected so the problem obviously is with the manufacturer. Produce cheap rubbish and grab the cash.

 You buy cheap, medium or expensive you get the same design and insides so its a case of trail cam roulette.

British Canid Historical Society

 

The Society believes that a thorough understanding of our relationship with wild canids in the UK both past and present, is vital for the safeguarding of today's ecosystems, ensuring they remain viable for generations to come. 

https://britishcanids.co.uk/?fbclid=IwAR2lLETubuldXid7T9mCbaORekLwI75ZTDqEepfBgqQNQqR5ys9jtbmIBhU

Long Grass And Ticks -Live (or die) with it!"

Zoe Webber and myself running the Fox Deaths Project have had to deal with the end result of babesia -dead foxes. How other wildlife is affected in the UK and particularly Bristol we have no idea.

I was not going to say anything about markers on our Fox Deaths map but Zoe picked up on it immediately. All of the foxes with babesia cut straight through the City of Bristol. We need more dead foxes to test but it is striking.

There is a belief that EMF fields can attract and provide a good habitat area for ticks. If you live in Bristol then you know almost every tall building has a radio tower on it. Also, one fox died (we lost the other one) near to the Purdown radio tower (70 metres high and built in 1970).

Based on other information about ticks I suggested to the main three Bristol naturalist groupsthat if anyone had more knowledge and experience and wanted to try a tick survey then the Purdown area would be perfect.

What I got in response was a 'joke' about "ticking" a box every time a tick was found and the "very strong" opinion that every time ticks were mentioned the reaction was to cut down high grass. Polite argument did not sway the responder.

Let me make it clear that I think we need to protect and preserve our environment (I've even been called an "environmental" and "conservation" activist now. I grew up in the UK and loved long grass as well as flower meadows. The same in Germany so I am not an "anti-long grass terrorist" of any kind.

As I pointed out; until someone conducts a survey and finds ticks you cannot put up a "tick awareness" notice as the local authorities want evidence.  So the ticks have to be looked for. Naturalists are supposed to study nature and record and report (I may be one of the last old dinosaurs with that belief it seems -its all pretty birda and butterflies now). 

There is no joke if bitten and you get Lyme disease -and walking a youngster through a meadow and finding him/her has been bitten and contracted Lymes is no joke. The finding (preliminary) that the babesia in foxes cuts through the middle of Bristol and so residential areas is important. "Live with it and keep the grass long" is not the response I expect from naturalists. Perhaps they can read the post mortem reports on the foxes?

Most people habve never heard of Lyme disease let alone babesia so why would they exercise caution -nothing around to warn them at entrances etc.

I throw my hands into the air and swear aloud rather than writing the responses I want to.

Babesia tick from Medical News Today https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/babesia

 Center for Disease Control FAQ on babesia https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/babesiosis/gen_info/faqs.html

What is babesiosis?

Babesiosis is a disease caused by microscopic parasites that infect red blood cells. Many different species (types) of Babesia parasites have been found in animals, only a few of which have been found in people. Babesia microti—which usually infects white-footed mice and other small mammals—is the main species that has been found in people in the United States. Occasional cases caused by other Babesia species have been detected.

How do people get infected with Babesia?

The main way is through the bite of an infected tick.

• Babesia microti is spread by Ixodes scapularis ticks, which are commonly called blacklegged ticks or deer ticks. (Although white-tailed deer are the most important food source for the adult stage of the tick, deer are not infected with B. microti.)
• The parasite typically is spread by the young nymph stage of the tick. Nymphs are mostly found during warm months (spring and summer) in areas with woods, brush, or grass.
• Infected people might not recall a tick bite because I. scapularis nymphs are very small (about the size of a poppy seed).

Other possible ways of becoming infected with Babesia include:
• Receipt of a contaminated blood transfusion (no tests have been licensed yet for donor screening); or
• Transmission from an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy or delivery.

Where do most of the cases of babesiosis occur in the United States?

Most cases occur in the Northeast and upper Midwest, particularly in parts of New England, New York state, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. In the Northeast, babesiosis occurs in both inland and coastal areas, including off-shore islands, such as Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard (Massachusetts); Block Island (Rhode Island); and Shelter Island, Fire Island, and eastern Long Island (New York state).

What are the symptoms and signs of Babesia infection?

Many people who are infected with Babesia microti feel fine and do not have any symptoms. Some people develop flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, sweats, headache, body aches, loss of appetite, nausea, or fatigue. Because Babesia parasites infect red blood cells, babesiosis can cause hemolytic anemia (from the destruction of red blood cells).

Babesiosis can be a severe, life-threatening disease, particularly in people who.
• Do not have a spleen;
• Have a weak immune system for other reasons (such as cancer, lymphoma, or AIDS);
• Have other serious health conditions (such as liver or kidney disease); or
• Are elderly.

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How soon after the exposure do symptoms develop?

Symptoms, if any, can start within a week or so. They usually develop within a few weeks or months, sometimes longer.

What should I do if I think I might have babesiosis?

See your health care provider.

How is babesiosis diagnosed in people who have symptoms of the infection?

In symptomatic people, babesiosis usually is diagnosed by examining blood under a microscope and seeing Babesia parasites inside red blood cells. To be sure the diagnosis is correct, your health care provider might have specimens of your blood tested by a specialized reference laboratory (such as at CDC or a health department). In addition, your health care provider might decide to have your blood tested for other possible causes of your symptoms, including other tickborne infections, such as Lyme disease and anaplasmosis.

I have been diagnosed with babesiosis. Do I need to tell CDC?

No. It is not necessary for you to report your case to your health department or CDC.

Reportable conditions are diseases that physicians and/or laboratories must report to their state health department. Babesiosis is reportable in some states but not in others. If babesiosis is reportable in your state, the appropriate authority (a physician, hospital, or laboratory) will submit the necessary information to the health department.

Can babesiosis be treated?

Yes. Effective treatments are available. People who do not have symptoms or signs of babesiosis usually do not need to be treated. The first step is to make sure the diagnosis is correct.

Can babesiosis be prevented?

Yes. People can take steps to prevent babesiosis and other tickborne infections. The use of prevention measures is particularly important for people at increased risk for severe babesiosis (for example, people who do not have a spleen). If possible, areas infested with ticks should be avoided, especially during warm months. If such areas cannot be avoided, use protective measures during outdoor activities. See the Prevention and Control page for tips, such as checking yourself daily for ticks. The tiny I. scapularis ticks that spread B. microti usually must stay attached to a person for more than 36–48 hours to be able to transmit the parasite. Daily tick checks can prevent transmission of the parasite.

No vaccine is available to protect people against babesiosis.

No vaccine is available to protect people against babesiosis.

Terry Hooper-Scharf

 Naturalist and author set up the Fox Study in 1976 which later became The British Fox Study which still continues work on current foxes as well as long British fox types.  The Fox Deaths Project is focussed on the City and county of Bristol and has been yielding unexpected information on disease, etc.  Hair gathering from foxes around the UK is taking place to hopefully submit for a DNA analysis project.

In 2010 the work on foxes, jackals, wolves and coyotes in the UK led to the publication of The Red Paper: Canids.

 

Specialising in canids and felids, Terry has looked at existing, threatened or extant species particularly from Japan and Hong Kong and the work has been incorporated into The British Fox Study.  He is also credited as observing the first raccoon dog in Lippe in the 1970s.

 

In 2021 the British Canid Historical Society was set up to look at various aspects of foxes.

 

From 1977 until (officially) 2016 Terry was an exotic species consultant specialising in felids and advising UK police forces via the exotic Animals Register (EAR). During this time he contributed to various technical papers and helped University of Wales Swansea and its Exotic Cat Group which presented findings to the Eastern Cougar Foundation Conference on the evidence regarding large ‘exotic’ cats in the UK.

 

Papers and Books

1. A Method For Grading Sightings Of Non-Native Cats: Application to South and West Wales, UK: Professor Alayne Street-Perrott, Alaric B. Smith Exotic Cat Group University of Wales Swansea and Terry Hooper-Scharf Exotic Animals Register.

Proceedings of the 2^nd Eastern Cougar Conference, Morgantown, West Virginia, 2004  

2. Exotic Cats In Britain: An Historical Perspective, Professor Alayne Street-Perrott, Alaric B. Smith Exotic Cat Group University of Wales Swansea and Terry Hooper-Scharf Exotic Animals Register, Proceedings of the 2^nd Eastern Cougar Conference, Morgantown, West Virginia, 2004  

3. (Contributor) Survey effort and Sighting Probabilities for Non-Native Cats in Carmarthenshire, Professor Alayne Street-Perrott, Alaric B. Smith Exotic Cat Group University of Wales Swansea, Swansea Geographer 2004  vol. 39

4. The Biography of Perceived Encounters with Pumas and Other Exotic Cats in South and West Wales, UK; Alayne Street-Perrott, Alaric B. Smith Exotic Cat Group University of Wales Swansea and Terry Hooper-Scharf Exotic Animals Register. 2004

5. Felids: Wildcats, Ferals and Hybrids, Terry Hooper-Scharf. Vale Wildlife Group, 2000

6. UK National Wolverine Population and Evidence, Terry Hooper-Scharf, Vale Wildlife Group, November 2000

7. The Red Paper: Foxes, Fox-Domestic Dog, Hybrids, Arctic Foxes, Wolves, Jackals and Coyotes: An Extensive Study of Vulpes vulpes in the United Kingdom and Releases/Escapes of Non-Native Canids; Terry Hooper-Scharf.  Black Tower Books, 2011

8. The “Girt Dog” of Ennerdale: Hyena, Thylacine or Escaped Exotic Cat: A Naturalist’s Assessment of the Evidence. Terry Hooper-Scharf. Black Tower Books, 2018

Various other unlisted papers and articles 2000-2021

Terry also applied his knowledge of the natural world to look at subjects ranging from gorillas and other primates as well as 18^th -19^th centuries mysterious predators in France, the UK and Ireland.

The Red Paper: Canids (2010)

Some Things Strange & Sinister (2011)

Some More Things Strange & Sinister  (2012)

Pursuing The Strange & Weird –A Naturalist’s Viewpoint (2014)

Strange & Mysterious Beasts  (2018)

In 2021 Terry set up the UK National Carnivore Advisory to look at all aspects of UK carnivores both large and small.

The Question of TB in Badgers

 This is going to be a sort of "on the hop" rant. A little rough and ready but it needs to be gotten off my chest.

Above: (c)2022 UK Wildlife

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Louise Shillington made a good point. There could be a very good reason why badgers are not subject to post mortems.

Imagine you PM 20 badgers killed in a cull zone. No TB. Okay, fluke and more specimens needed. So 30 badger...40 badgers...no TB. You then have to look at those figures and question the alleged badger spreading of TB.

A way around this -no post mortems on health and safety issues so how are they testing for TB? Bloods? In which case I think most of us will recall a certain alpaca that was dragged off and killed for having TB...but didn't.

I also checked and, considering badgers have been post mortemed for a few centuries there are no reports of the pathologists, biologists etc contracting TB.

Why haven't/didn't they?

Above: one example of the hundreds of thousands of badgers killed and then processed and mounted by taxidermists over the last three centuries -why is TB not rife amongst taxidermists?

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Another point made: are hunt hounds tested for TB? Because a good few do get TB and this was something talked about years ago. However, the rich protect the rich and any question of hounds with TB are fobbed off.

Above: Fox hounds (c)2022 The Field

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Taxidermists deal with badgers all of the time and the processing would surely mean a good few taxidermists have TB -it should be rife. Asking around no one has heard of a fellow taxidermist contractrng TB. Odd? There have been many thousands of British badgers killed and mounted therefore, statistically, you would expect to see some instances of TB amongst taxidermists.

There is TB in the UK but this has nothing to do with badgers but living conditions and other factors. No taxidermists -if I am wrong please correct me.

Should it not be made illegal for taxidermists to handle dead badgers? A criminal offence as it could spread the disease? Nope. Move on no questions to answer here.

A good few years back British cows were sent to Africa. These cows would have had all sorts of tests and documentation to declare them healthy. They got to Africa and...some came down with TB. So where were the badgers?

Eventually someone offered a suggestion that some African animal spread the TB and subject closed. However the subject of TB hosts and how they are dealt with in Africa is a complicated one. But the cows sent to Africa were kept in very sanitary conditions to prevent disease. The unrecognised (officially) belief for years is that the cattle had TB to start with yet came from badger free areas.

Vaccination of cattle? Well that is full of problems but the point is that we know fox hounds have TB and that can spread around but are we going to shoot all the hounds where TB is suspected? The British public would be outraged even if they were not that bothered about foxes being ripped apart, badgers being culled or when foot and mouth cause thousands of cattle to be killed and there were huge pyres of cattle burning.

Above: 2001 foot and mouth outbreak -mass burning of cattle

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We are supposed to be a nation of animal ;lovers but it seems only if its something we like. People sit back and say "nothing that we can do. Out of our hands we aren't the experts" well, forget Change.org and donating money to its "work" (of seemingly collecting contributions because its petitions seem to achieve bugger all) you have a voice. You have a vote. Pester your MP. Spam DEFRA. Then spam DEFRA again. Spam government ministers. Become the biggest pain in the ass since that question of whether the PM attended that party he attended or not.

Chris Packham and Brian May -both high profile and anti-cull

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Demonstrations, public events -get the big names there because the only way things are going to be changed is if YOU kick and shout about it.