My coffers are empty so I pick and choose.

 

Yesterday and today a total of five requests from wildlife/environmental groups in the UK or outside the UK for my input or to help advise. This is a regular thing and can amount to 10-15 requests per week,

I'd guess to do what the last five requested would take two days of sorting data, etc.

All unpaid work.

No.

This goes on too much and yet the bodies involved WILL make money from contributions, etc from my work which is usually all uncredited.

Why do I get so many requests? BECAUSE I have spent 50 years of field and archival research but if you ask a "professional" you would get asked for a high fee and those persons would see what was on the internet copy and paste and give that to you for your money and it is likely an assistant or intern will do the work. Which means you can get some pretty inaccurate info back.

I know because I was told by two such people that this was "common practice" and also when I used to help students etc with their papers what appeared were just huge chunks of my work all word-for-word and.... no credit.

My coffers are empty so I pick and choose.

There Is A Stupid Voice That Keeps Saying "Continue!"

 

Apart from a while living in Germany I was born and raised in Bristol. From an early age I had an interest in wildlife from the smallest insect to the largest mammal. I think it amused my gran when I used to pick up worms from her garden in St Werburgh's and just hold and examine them.

St Werburgh's was great as we lived in Sevier Street with the brook and Mina Road Park to our rear. The odd owl landing on the window sill at night was "fun" (huge glowing eyes outside the window); I interacted with a pretty smart jackdaw and even observed a large caterpillar that after all of these years (I was about 10 years old at the time) I have never been able to identify what species it was.

In 1975 whilst walking to work down Pennywell Road I saw by first fox out in the daylight (it was around 0630) -not far behind it was a pursuer: a chunky black and white tom cat that looked determined to teach "that damned dog" a lesson for coming into its area. A year later I set up the British Fox Study here in Bristol. I also looked into wild cats and badgers. In 1977 I was rather accidentally drawn into exotic animals and spent 1977-2018 acting as a UK police forces wildlife consultant (and later as part of the Partnership Against Wildlife Crime -PAWS).

Yes, I did get interviewed in newspapers 9national and regional) and even on local, national and non UK (Australia and Forces Radio Europe) on my work.

So I started out all those decades ago and tried as best I could to avoid publiciity while I also helped people build wildlife pounds, remove the odd adder that had wandered into their garden and tried to persuade local authorities (Conservative, Labour and currently the very non Greens) to help do more for the environment and help conserve our rapidly dwindling wildlife.

I had the first ever post mortem study into fox deaths set up in Bristol which yielded some interesting results. Outside the UK I am known for my research on canids and felids -particularly extinct ones and I managed to identify which fox inhabited Hong Kong before hunting drove it extinct -something naturalists there had been unable to do.

In 2000 I wrote a paper that clearly stated there WAS a genuine Corsican wild cat (aka "fox-cat") -science caught up with me about five years ago!

I have researched and discovered what the original British fox looked like as well as the wild cat -al archived and published for posterity.

British academia's response? "You aren't with a university are you?" which is their way of saying "you ain't part of the club". Far more interest outside the UK.

The question I keep getting asked by people who wonder WHY I still do all of this with no financial reward or official recognition (I liked it when someone pointed out that a lady who was a public toilet attendant for 30 years got an MBE for her work but "You just get tones of ------ thrown at you!" -it stops any ego developing)

From the 1970s when things were bleak -the Energy Crisis and power cuts- to the 1980s when people seemed to be trying to at least do something to save the environment and wildlife we have seen, since the late 1990s, a downward spiral of not many caring about all of the UK species going extinct, all the trees being cut down and Green Spaces grabbed for selling off.

Local authorities and national governments all have the same mantra: "**** wildlife and the environment -there is money to be made!"

When I am gone very few are going to even know about the work I have done. The UK as a whole doers not care what is going on outside of TV or on the internet. Otters, badgers, foxes and deer are all piling up on the roadside (former wildlife track) but build under or over passes for wildlife to cross? No. That would cost money -it's just wildlife after all.

Let's All Save Wildlife

 Wildlife Trusts promo:

"Every day, wherever we are, there are chances to roll up our sleeves and fix what’s broken. Let’s start with nature."

My response:

"Sadly, about 90% of the UK population does not give a damn about wildlife.

In Bristol this year thanks to speeding we have lost (reported) 47 badgers and 115 foxes.

Every night men and women across the UK get into their cammo gear and go out shooting foxes or whatever is about for 'sport' -killing wildlife for fun (as well as the odd domestic cat).

Birds of prey nests are being wrecked and the birds poisoned because "We don't want them here".

Until prosecutions for wildlife crime become really harsh the killing will continue.

Until speeding motorists cut back the wildlife deaths will continue.

Until we stop people going out and killing for 'fun'...we are losing. Losing in a big way.

See my post My Opinion After 50 Years A Naturalist: The UK IS NOT A Nation of Animal Lovers. here:

[https://terryhoopernaturalist.blogspot.com/.../my-opinion...]

Working With Avon Wildlife Trust?

 

AWT I am indifferent to. They had Ashton Vale designated a Wildlife Deprivation Zone when I moved here in 1994. In my first night I observed low flying barn owls, hedgehogs, two foxes walking up the road, bats etc. Next day I saw a woodpecker, collared doves, wood pigeons, finches, great and Blue Tits and more.

After a month of wildlife surveying I sent a report to AWT who told me that I needed to join before any of my data could be looked at.

After B&M opened in Winterstoke Road I was accosted by a young fella looking to get people to join AWT and he very knowledgably informed me "Did you know this was a wildlife deprivation zone?" I looked out of the doorway and said to him

"What do you see outside?" Puzzled he shrugged. I pointed to the lamp post fitted rat traps , I pointed to the two wood pigeons, a large number of crows, three types of sea gull I then offered to show him the hedgehog droppings I had passed on the grass outside the strore.

He turned and asked the next person through the doors whether they had considered joining AWT to "help bring wildlife to the area".

I have never had any response to copies of the badger and fox deaths registers I sent nor the fox death study results.

When I asked AWT for some kind of support in asking Bristol City Council to look into ways to cut down wildlife deaths I was told they couldn't do that. Asking whether they could pass on any fox or badger death reports they received (three times) -nope.

I started the Fox Study Project in 1976 and AWT has never shown any interest-my work is better known internationally than in my own City. My badger work is also know outside the UK as is my work on wild cats and feral cats. None of which has ever interested AWT and certainly never BRERC,

We need people out there working to protect and study wildlife and the environment and far less time fund raising. I may come across as a miserable sod but when we live in one of the worst countries for wildlife I think I am allowed to be.

The Stupidity of the UK Law on a Protected Species

 

 Here is how ridiculous UK law is regarding badger and badger sett protection. 

Excluding the deaths due to cars and illegal farmer practices, the UK has legally killed over 300,000 badgers based on very bad science relating to badgers and bovine TB -for which the badger is recognised as a scape goat species; hiding bad animal husbandry practices. If -if- we are lucky it will take decades for badgers to recover in numbers if they escape extinction.

If we find a dead lactating sow near to a badger sett and it is clear that there are young cubs in the sett that are going to starve and die... we have to let them. DEFRA made this very clear to me in 2024 when it told me that to rescue cubs, whose mother was dead, from a sett would legally be seen as "tampering with a protected sett" and a prosecution would ensue. "If you can place food nearby and entice them out then you can rescue them" I was told.

Meanwhile, on a Face Book UK badger group one moron is seen sitting on and next to a sett enticing badgers with food and... DEFRA does nothing. Incidentally, I face some very nasty abuse from the group owner/moderator and members for pointing out the activity was illegal (I was banned from the group).

This is the story from 2024:

The Story of Badger Watch UK: Can We Win When 'Wildlife' Groups Encourage Animal Endangerment? UPDATE

Whoops! I got banned again.

Well, I got suspended from a fox group on which I was the top contributor and only found

out when I tried to answer someone's fox health problem.

There were photographs in the group and videos of people calling foxes into houses and one

man who was a 'hero" getting a fox to come to him and put its paws on his knees. I pointed

out that this was something dangerous for the fox and then came all the angry comments.

I politely explained the problems it could cause and ended by saying if people actually loved

foxes they needed to treat them as wild animals not pets. However, the group Everything Fox

is a one that promotes what is essentially wildlife abuse in amongst its constant jabbering to

"FEED THEM!" (apparently fox cubs playing and making vocalisations is them "begging for

food").

The last group I was suspended then banned from was Badger Watch UK where I commented

on a man who films/photographs badgers while sitting on top of their sett feeding them and

allowing 6-7 at a time to scramble over him. The group admins responded by sending childish

Gifs and memes then blocked me.

This is wildlife abuse and its just a shame that people on the groups do not speak up when

they see what is happening but stay silent otherwise they don't get to see the pretty fox/badger

photos. When I see obese foxes I know that there is a generation losing its disease immunity

and passing on that lack of immunity to its young.

---------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------

Boris the Badger and Friends is a Face Book page that promotes the habituation and hand 

feeding of badgers in close proximity to the actual badger sett. On the 2nd April 2024 the man 

posted a video of him sitting amongst a group of 6-7 badgers and hand feeding.

I had previously (twice) been very polite and asked him to stop as he was habituating badgers 

to humans and the hand feeding is something that really ought to be made illegal.

Sitting near a sett and hand feeding badgers -"only one ever comes close" (c)2024 Boris the 

Badger

His constant response is that the "badger" only came out shyly to him. This was a lie because 

all of the badgers in the video he talks about how several were climbing over him. Previous 

videos showed the same thing.  I decided that a much firmer approach to the problem was 

needed and pointed out that his activities were putting the badgers safety at risk. I also pointed 

out that using his ISP it was possible to track down his street and from there work out where 

badgers might be.  I pointed out that, legally, he was interfering with a badger sett and that 

could involve his being prosecuted. I ended by asking him to PLEASE stop what he was

 doing.

Then I received this notification along with its rather immature added note. 

 I sent a copy of this notification to all three admins but one blocks any messages so great

admin there! There seemed to be no sense in this since I was listed as a "top contributor" on

Badger Watch UK -in fact I was the only person actively helping people with badger issues.

I assumed there must be an error somewhere.Here is what I sent the only two admins who were contactable:

"I am writing to you as an Admin on Badger Watch UK. It seems that I am accused of "threatening a member" I will make it clear that I did not threaten to do anything other than to report the danger he was putting wildlife -badgers- in and breaking the law at the same time. We need to protect badgers and stop them from being habituated to humans. Sitting on the ground near a badger sett and feeding the badgers in the way he has videoed is also ethically wrong. I deal with badgers killed because they do not see humans as a threat and the member in question may well be a "star" but he is not helping badgers and I am shocked that admins feel pointing this out is threatening. Humans, whoever they are, cannot be encouraged to do this when we urge people to report people around protected badger setts. "

Krister Ardem and admin: "Telling someone you've traced their address via their ISP is definitely threatening"

So I replied and suspect I am going to be kicked off because the attitude was very odd:

"No it was pointing out that it is not hard to use that to track what street he is on and use that to pinpoint where likely locations of badgers are. That is alerting him to how easy the wrong people can find badgers if they want to. I DID NOT state I had tracked his address just that the ISP leads to info that shows his street. That is not a legal definition of a threat but safety warning. The issue here is that this is irresponsible behaviour not good for the badgers. Surely that can be seen? I have alerted Face Book and sent copies of my posts and the video clip I saved and explained that I have been banned for 24 hours because I take an accusation of threatening someone seriously as does FB who pick up these things. If you would sooner have anti wildlife behaviour videos to trying to explain to people how to keep badgers safe then the fight to save badgers is lost."

Krister Ardem "You said you'd traced his street in less than 30 minutes. He's been working with badgers for more than 40 years so why be so attacking and not discuss amicably? Now you're trying to threaten BWUK admins for muting you as a punishment, saying you've disagreed with what is clearly intimidating behaviour. I'm sure Facebook will have a good laugh at your complaint. Before throwing it right into the bin where it belongs."

It was as though I had somehow upset people who are supposed to care for badgers by pointing out that someone was doing something that could harm badgers. I was still trying to help smooth things over though:

"If you go back I have been very polite to him and explained why he should not be doing this. I have tried privately as well and I have worked in wildlife since 1977 so well before his work -whatever that is as I can find no name or published papers. the whole reason I stopped checking on badger setts is because someone tracked me down in a similar way.

"I have actually had a response from FB (note: I received a notification from them about my ban which was why I contacted them) and they were not laughing and I have no idea why you are saying I am threatening BWUK admins?? I get a feeling you just want me to leave the group because this is getting ridiculous with the word threat being thrown everywhere. If ALL the admins agree that a field naturalist with decades of experience is not wanted but social media likes are then ALL admins should agreed to remove me."

In all honesty it was quite simple. I had spoken out against one of their "stars" who got lots of "Likes" for his videos and that, to the admins, was unacceptable and whatever I wrote I was "threatening" anyone and everyone. What I was not expecting was the very immature response to my last message:

So I responded: "That is very immature as a response and you seem to be baiting me for some reason but I stand by what I wrote and the fact that we have to protect badgers"

Sadly, Ardem really was as immature as his responses suggested as he sent this meme next:

I was still trying to be polite but Ardem then blocked me. As did the only other admin on FB.  Basically, they knew they were in t5he wrong and supporting an habituator for social media likes and had no way of responding so were turning every and any word into a "threat"   In fact, it seems that Ardem was not aware of the social media "You Lose the argument" rule. That last meme was it!   

So I waited to see what happened but I had been immediately removed from the group. Boris the Badger and Friends blocked me on all social media -as well as someone else who tried to explain why he should not feed the badgers the way he was.

"only one badger comes near me"  (c)2024 Boris the Badger

And to emphasise the point: 

"only one badger comes near me"  (c)2024 Boris the Badger

 This is wrong on so many counts but as with many social media groups  covering foxes and other wild animals this is encouraged and "Boris" even gets a much cherished "Rising star"  at the top of his FB page. Wrong is wrong and these people know it but want the social media likes and ****  the wildlife.

Unfortunately for Badger Watch UK and Boris the Badger and Friends you post publicly then those photographs are available on any search engine (four to be exact as I tried them all to make sure)

                                                                               fin

When it comes to rescuing badger cubs from a sett I say go for it if the mother is dead. It is up to the personal conscience of those involved and  DEFRA' can swivel on its office chair.

STOP! CHECK! REPORT!

 

We hit 100 dead foxes (reported) in Bristol on Wednesday. Today I listed foxes 101 and 102 and awaiting info on (possibly) 103.

When vixens die and they are lactating then cubs die. We've had cases in the past of where very young cubs have just been seen wondering about eating any vegetation they can -usually twigs.

Whatever part of the country you are ion (or outside the UK):

PLEASE do not be that ignorant "I really do not care" driver/walker. If you find a dead fox or collapsed fox check if it is lactating (extended teats) and REPORT it asap as cubs may need rescuing.

Earth Day... 24 Hours To Fund Raise

 

"Earth Day"

Earth is here for more than one day. Fund raiser, chance to get attention for whatever.

BUT there are people who try to save the environment and species 365 days of the year, every year. That doesn't matter, though as the "big bodies" don't make cash from them.

CARE about the planet 365 days a year not do something one day and feel proud you have "just saved the Earth"

In fact, for the UK it is just two faced hypocrisy as people dig up hedgerows and trees are cut down to make drive ways for their cars or gardens are concreted over because "less hassle to maintain" and wildlife homes are destroyed because "We want the fox and cubs out so we can put down new decking/a new shed" and "How do I get rid of the badgers in my garden?"

To put it bluntly; the UK is a shit hole when it comes to protecting the environment and wildlife and I've been working on this 50 years so I've seen the rot set in.