"...wildlife experts being unwilling to look at the evidence...that is unforgivable"

 

The big problem with science as a subject is that you graduate, get a nice comfortable university job and then, if you are a doctor or professor, get lowly students to do the leg work which usually involves copy and paste. These students are never credited and so do not mind "borrowing" from other sources because the Dr or Prof takes full credit and then earns the grant to carry on for another few years.

These people will very rarely "rock Good Ship Academia" because that is their gravy boat. Comfortable jobs, free lunches and good pay.  The problem is that these people become "experts" in subjects they have not really researched or studied other than to quote -read books on, say, natural history, from ten different authors and they will literally repeat the same sentences. Each will then use the others' quotes as vindication that they are right. 

This is how dogma got a foothold in natural history and zoology.  

The old time naturalists and zoologists who grew up carrying out field work and learning about wildlife (mainly because they were also 'sportsmen' who hunted and killed wildlife) and they all sounded the alarm in the early 1800s about the Old type foxes and wild cats dying out through hunting....but even they then continued shooting and killing until the last of the Old species died out.  For foxes that was around the 1860s and a similar date was given for wild cats and red squirrels dying out. The 1860s should be known as the British Species Extinction. Scottish naturalists and zoologists including the top man who had studied wild cats for 40 years all agreed (in 1897) that the true Scottish wild cat had died out during that 1860s period.

"Never heard of this theory before" is a modern day response to this fact being mentioned. How can I prove it?  In both my Red Papers I give full references for every fact stated and in some cases several references -books, hunting journals and naturalist publications. All can be checked online without getting out of the comfy chair.   The original 2010 Canids Red Paper was called by Sir David Bellamy as "explosive" and I believe he checked some sources quoted.

The 19th century zoologists and naturalists openly wrote about the various museums they visited and how none had a genuine Scottish wild cat in their collections "all are hybrids" -and the reason why they were hybrids was given.  What everyone knows today as a Scottish wild cat is not. It looks nothing like the last generation of true wild cats and every expert stated the same thing right up until the early 1900s; had it not been for feral domestic cats the wild cats would have died out centuries before.   

European wild cats would be pretty heavily hybridised by now and in the early 20th century these were released in many English shooting "countries" for 'sport' where they were killed and left where they fell and if it were not for one doctor having a cat he shot stuffed and mounted we might never have known that -it opened up an all new avenue of research that led to finding more accounts as well as taxidermy examples of wild cats around England into the early 1940s.

How did I find all of this out? Because in 1976 I was a young naturalist and accepted everything I was told by older and more 'knowledgeable' men. But then accounts were dismissed and when I asked why I was told "These foxes do not exist because I have never seen one" and that same sentence is written by other 'experts' in their books written over 100+ years after the foxes became extinct so of course they never saw one.   

You gain knowledge by experience and doing a lot of research work and I spent more time in the newspaper archives of Bristol Central Library than I care to think about now! I have spent the decades since 1976 studying and researching foxes and wild canids and from 1980 on I also included wild cats in the work. I have no idea how many thousands of newspaper items I have read and books...possibly hundreds (both 17th-20th centuries) and it takes time but all the pieces come together and twice I have been told by university professors that my work is so heavily researched they have no idea why I do not work with universities.

I point out that I am not a university graduate. I do not hold a Phd and so do not fit in with the elitist academics who continue to spread and teach dogma. Think of all the books and articles as well as papers those elites publish and earn money from -are they going to admit "We didn't do any research"?  One even told me that the fox taxidermies in the room behind where he was sitting would not be checked over some non peer reviewed work. If it was not in a peer review paper then it meant nothing other than that I had wasted 50 years of my life (but he was an 'expert' of 30 years).

It shows a total disregard for scientific investigation. If he had checked the museum taxidermies and found Old fox types (that we now know did exist in Western Europe) then what an explosive discovery for his academic career!   But no. The Red fox is the only fox to have ever existed and that claim is where the dogma and money lies.  The Natural History Museum (London) refused to cooperate with research (after 50 years of conversation with staff on other wildlife topics) and even denied having specific specimens or could not find them: but they had the gall to ask for a copy of my research notes and what conclusions I had reached.

Elite, from which elitist was formed, evolved much earlier, in 1823, from the French élite, meaning “selection, choice.” Synonyms for elitist include highbrow, pompous person, social climber, and stuffed shirt. This about sums up how the people I have been in contact with over wild cats and foxes.  

One well known zoologist told me once: "It's solid research but it will earn you enemies for rocking the boat!"   I am not in this to make friends. My interest is only in revealing the true history of species we lost in the UK and Ireland and how that came about through humans and the effects on the environment.  Wildlife health and welfare are also high on my list -hence the Bristol post mortems project.   Even offered a copy of my books the experts say they are not interested -I am just not part of the elite (thank goodness). And even the much famed BBC wildlife unit have decided they are not interested. Book publishers in the UK who were "very interested" later turned down the two manuscripts and until someone sent me a list of the upper echelons in publishing who are hunt supporters or part of the "horsey set" I did not understand why.

But academics and self professed wildlife experts being unwilling to look at the evidence...that is unforgivable.

Facts, Figures and Solution Offering - Apparently None of This Matters

 On the British Fox and Wild Canid Study blog on 7th January, 2024 I posted this:

How Many Animals Killed On UK Roads Each Year -it should keep you awake at night

National Road Death Survey The Mammal Society 2001

There have been warnings that common mammal species such as hedgehogs, badgers and hares might be declining and face local extinction in certain parts of Europe primarily due to road casualties. In Britain annual road casualties are estimated to account for 100,000 foxes, 100,000 hedgehogs, 50,000 badgers and 30,000-50,000 deer. There is also concern regarding particular bird of prey species such as the barn owl, which is dramatically over-represented in the total number of wildlife road casualties compared with other bird of prey species. For these reasons, The Mammal Society, in collaboration with the Hawk and Owl Trust, undertook a nationwide survey to identify trends in road and habitat characteristics associated with mammal and bird of prey wildlife road casualties.

For one year, in 2000/2001, 281 volunteers from across Britain recorded wild mammal and bird of prey casualties on all road categories except designated trunk roads and motorways, which were excluded on the grounds of safety. A number of habitat and road characteristic variables were recorded at each casualty location including the speed limit, proximity to a bend, presence or absence of a connecting wildlife corridor (e.g. a stream, railway line or hedgerow), and the adjacent land use, verge habitats and highway boundary features Regional differences in casualty rates were also investigated. Volunteers were also requested to record road and habitat data at non- casualty locations along their route so that characteristics occurring disproportionately more frequently at casualty locations than at non-casualty locations could be identified.

Volunteers recorded 5675 mammal casualties and 142 bird of prey casualties. Figures 1 and 2 show the principal mammal and bird of prey road casualty species as proportions of the total number of casualties. The hedgehog was the most numerous mammal casualty recorded (29% of mammal casualties), followed by badger (25%) and fox (19%). The most numerous bird of prey road casualty recorded was the tawny owl (25% of casualties), followed by kestrel (19%) and then barn owl (16%). Casualties as a proportion of British pre-breeding population size were highest for the badger, fox and barn owl.

Habitat and road features influencing the presence/absence of wildlife road casualties are shown in Table 1. The casualty locations of a number of mammal species, including fox, badger and muntjac, and also the barn owl and kestrel were associated with adjacent linear habitat features that connect with road verges and thus funnel wildlife toward traffic. High traffic speed increased the likelihood of many mammal species, including fox, badger and roe deer, and also the tawny owl, falling victim to vehicles as it reduces the time available for drivers and animals to react to danger. Adjacent land use and region were important factors influencing wildlife road casualty locations and appeared to reflect foraging activity and population density. For example, roe deer and tawny owl road casualties were associated with adjacent woodland habitat and badger casualties were disproportionately high in the south-west of England.

Due to the impact of road casualties it has been suggested that barn owls are unable to sustain viable breeding populations in close proximity to trunk roads and motorways and that road casualties may even be responsible for suppressing the populations of some of our common mammal species on a local scale. There are also a significant number of human fatalities and a considerable economic cost associated with collisions between vehicles and wildlife. There is therefore, a conservation and economic argument for substantial investment in wildlife accident prevention. This study has highlighted typical casualty hotspot locations where such mitigation measures should be implemented.

We are extremely grateful for the tremendous effort of all the volunteers who participated in the survey, all of whom will be sent a summary report in the near future.

By Lincoln Garland

Figure 1. Mammal road casualty proportions

 

 

 Figure 2. Bird of prey road casualty proportions

 

 The 4% between unknown and little owl pertains to sparrowhawks

Table 1. Habitat and road features influencing the presence/absence of wildlife road casualties

 

	Adjacent verge habitat	Adjacent land use	Adjacent highway boundary	Connecting Wildlife corridor	Road speed limit	Proximity to a road bend	Region
Mammals	ns	ns	ns	ns	ns	ns	ns
Hedgehog	ns	√ (urban)	√ (ditch)	ns	ns	ns	ns
Hare	ns	√ (arable)	√ (ditch)	ns	ns	√ (no bend)	√ (north England)
Grey squirrel	√ (wooded)	√ (urban and woodland)	ns	ns	ns	ns	√ (south-east)
Rat	ns	√ (urban)	ns	ns	ns	√ (on bend)	ns
Fox	ns	ns	ns	√	√	ns	ns
Stoat	ns	ns	√ (ditch)	√	√	ns	ns
Weasel	ns	ns	ns	√	ns	ns	ns
Polecat/ferret	ns	√ (pasture)	ns	√	ns	ns	ns
Mink	ns	ns	ns	√	ns	ns	ns
Badger	ns	√ (pasture)	√ (ditch & hedge)	√	√	ns	√ (south-west)
Roe deer	ns	√ (woodland)	√ (ditch)	ns	√	ns	ns
Muntjac	√ (wooded)	ns	√ (ditch and treeline)	√	√	ns	ns
Birds of prey	ns	ns	ns	ns	ns	ns	ns
Kestrel	ns	√ (arable)	ns	√	ns	ns	ns
Barn owl	ns	√ (arable)	√ (no hedge)	√	ns	ns	ns
Tawny owl	ns	√ (woodland)	ns	ns	√	ns	ns

ns – non-significant

√ - significant

Here we have to remember that these are just reports gathered through volunteers and so fox 19% and badger 25% seems to be a little off when the Society states that an estimated 100,000 foxes and 50,000badgers are killed each year on UK roads. In fact, animals killed on roads or being hit by cars are rarely reported as the attitude exists that "animals should not be on the road" and "what's the point of reporting a dead animal?" -something I hear all too often. 

For a country calling itself a "nation of animal lovers" this is literally widespread slaughter on an industrial scale when put alongside hundreds of mammals (and birds) killed each week for shooters 'sport' and the 'legal; killing of 250,000 badgers to stop supposed bovine TB spread. 

With road casualties we know that otters, foxes, badgers and deer are killed daily and in many cases along certain and very specific stretches of road. Yet, there is, unlike most wildlife conscious countries, no use or building of wildlife over or underpasses to stop the casualties. Why not? It might cause a few delays in journeys during building? That is far more preferable than having to record more and more wildlife deaths especially of protected species such as otters and badgers.

Just from the 2023 Bristol Fox and Badger Death Registers we can highlight the areas/roads where most deaths occur and when it comes to otters we know the main road where deaths happen. The UKs local and national 'policies' on environment and conservation are a joke at best and a smoke screen/lie at worse.

Firstly, it might be worth the Home Office examining the widespread use of firearms for 'sport' because on most of the shooters' online pages they brag about the wildlife (and other animals) they have killed and post photographs of themselves with their 'trophies' and yet, the law states (in the case of foxes for instance) that they may be "controlled" if a threat top livestock. So the killing of "hundreds" according to 'sportsmen' of foxes every month is illegal -what livestock are foxes able to take down (and ignore the false lamb claim) especially on the outskirts of towns and cities where foxes mainly feed on rodents and wild rabbits?

Why are fox numbers tumbling i9n the UK? Well, traffic for one and the other is the killing of breeding pairs of foxes as well as cubs.  The number of vixens we record being killed by cars alone shows that there are simply not enough to continue breeding a strong and healthy population and so many are suffering from illnesses and not recovering -the 100,000 per year is looking a tad slim compared to the probable actual number of fox deaths each year in total.

And, yes, I am aware that some shooters include off duty police officers so perhaps the blind eye of the law is blind for a reason?

We need to tackle decline in wildlife while we still can and when you also consider that Mammal Society report was from 2001 and that traffic has increased greatly since then it becomes something that should keep people concerned with wildlife and conservation up at night. It does me.

We need to construct wildlife underpasses and regulate shooting for 'sport'.  We also need to legally come down hard on estates and those who allow the killing of protected and reintroduced birds of prey etc. That or just watch as wildlife disappear.

Then, on the 30th February 2025 I posted this:

How Much Wildlife Can One City Kill And Not Care About?

 I have just completed a 59pp document that combines the 2022-(Feb) 2025 Fox and Badger deaths registers. It is grim reading.

Well over 600 foxes and over 150 badgers and, as I keep saying, these are only the reported deaths. You could probably double both totals.

In the last week Sarah Mills (Bristol Wildlife Rescue) had call outs to three RTA vixens who were aborting still born cubs.  There was also a heavily pregnant sow boar.

The persistence of local authorities to not put in place road under./overpasses for wildlife or speed bumps on the worse roads (where evening and night time "racers" kill a lot of wildlife) really shows the lack of intertest and concern.  "We have no budget for this" is always the response while always calling out what "champions for the environment and re-wilding" they are.

It has to change because we are losing too much wildlife -foxes, badgers, deer, otters, hedgehogs and more.

____________________________________________________

What did this achieve?  When the Green Party running Bristol City Council was sent a report on wildlife deaths it was "concerning" but fobbed off with the excuse that it would cost money. You can read about that exchange here https://foxwildcatwolverineproject.blogspot.com/2025/03/time-to-stop-playing-nice-with-local.html

 The Green Party states as item 3 of "Our Core Values":

1. Humankind depends on the diversity of the natural world for its existence. We do not believe that other species are expendable.

There is an article on The Green Party page "Nature Is In Crisis" and, yes, it is in crisis and in Bristol we are seeing deer, foxes, badgers, hedgehogs, birds of prey, otters and other species being killed by road users and this is tackled as a priority in many other countries.

The Green Party was voted in by many people who believed the promises and it is time that the Party actually steps up and becomes pro-active or sit back and accept the responsibility for doing nothing to try to save the wildlife that is important to our environment. But instead the are looking at developing homes on Green sites and attracting more business development which means money -far more important than any wildlife or even human cost? 

According to the Bristol City Council Road Casualty Review 2023 (my highlights):

"This report focuses on road collisions in Bristol that have been reported to the local police force and which resulted in either a fatality or a personal-injury (all referred to as casualties).  In 2023, there were 939 reported casualties (including 8 fatalities), this was 130 lower than the previous year.  

"There were 8 fatal casualties - a level that is equal to the recent (2013 to 2022) long-term average for Bristol’s roads of 8 deaths per year. "

What it seems that BCC are ignoring because it might cost money is that there are long stretches of road in Bristol used every night and especially more so at weekends, as "race tracks" and places where a driver can "put their foot down". In the small area I am in, which is far away from central Bristol, every night car breaks and speeding can be heard and at weekends it gets worse. The most basic way to stop speeding is the use of road bumps. Drivers hate them because they cannot speed above the legal limit. Even a wildlife rescuer in high-visibility gear had cars speeding past and had near miss incidents -on a suburban city road where people might also be crossing.

But, The Green Party Council has ignored all of this and their response to the follow up and noting human casualties was...to not respond. Which says a lot about their attitude and priorities.

As we see badgers, foxes and hedgehogs roll on to extremely rare or extinction around the UK the Green Party Bristol City Council can boast that it did its best in not giving a damn.