Red Paper 2025

 Please Note that the price of this book is currently set at a low price but will increase to £20 at the end of March 2026

96 Pages

Print Book: A4 (8.27 x 11.69 in / 210 x 297 mm), 

Standard Color, 60# White — Uncoated, Paperback 

Perfect Bound, Glossy Cover

Price:£12.00 GBP

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For decades there have been reports of “Big Cats” roaming the British countryside killing sheep and deer. Are all of the observers from naturalists,zoologists, zoo personnel, police and others all mistaken?

Terry Hooper-Scharf set up the Exotic Animals Register (EAR) in 1977 to disprove the claims before become a UK police forces exotic wildlife consultant and member of the Partnership Against Wildlife crime (PAWS).  What he found out was almost unbelievable but with the gathered evidence including DNA results and bone analysis it seemed that there were exotic cats in the UK and that some had been here at least going back to the early 19th century.

The presented evidence saw the Department of Environment Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) force him off the PAWS scheme despite police protests.

Now read fact and not sensationalist press or fringe claims.

The Red Paper 2022 Volume II: Wild Cats, Feral and New Native Species

 Decades of unique research please note the price will increase later in March.

226 pp

Paperback

Interior Color and Black and white

Dimensions  A4 (8.27 x 11.69 in / 210 x 297 mm)

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£25.00

In 1896 Scottish naturalists and zoologists declared that the true Scottish wild cat had become extinct by the 1860s. What we see today is nothing more than a wild tabby cat. In this work the true history and destruction of wild cats from England, Wales (where hybrids clung on into the 1940s) and Scotland is explored and after decades of research the true look of the wild cat is revealed. The "English Tiger" and "Highland Tiger" truly lived up to that name.

Dogma is finally thrown out.

There is also a look at the "New Native Cats" ranging from Asian Golden Cats, Lynx, Puma and others and the evidence leading to their being so designated.

No silly press or media stories just solid facts backed up by evidence.

The author acted as an exotic species wildlife consultant to UK police forces from 1977-2015 as well as cooperated with university projects on the subject.

Island cats as well as feral cats their lifestyles and problems mare also covered .

Fully referenced and including maps, illustrations and very rare photographs -some never before seen in print- make this a book for amateur naturalists and zoologists.

The Red Paper 2022 Volume I: Foxes, Jackals, Wolves, Coyotes and Wild Dogs of the United Kingdom and Ireland

 Over 45 years of ongoing research the cover price has been kept low but will increase later this month to £30

361 pp

Paperback

Interior Color & Black and white

Dimensions A4 (8.27 x 11.69 in / 210 x 297 mm

£25.00

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 When the Doggerland bridge flooded the British Isles became separated from

Continental Europe and its wildlife developed uniquely. The British Isles, for the purpose of this work includes Ireland, and isolated the wolves on both became what would be island species not affected by the usual island dwarfism. These wolves, after millennia. Became “unwanted” and forests and woodland was burnt down or cut down for the specific purpose of lupicide; the killing of every and any wolf –and there was a bounty for “a job well done”.

At the same time there also developed three unique island species of Old fox from the coyote-like Mountain or Greyhound fox, the slightly smaller but robustly built Mastiff or Bulldog fox and the smaller Common or Cur fox –the latter like today’s red foxes had a symbiotic relationship with humans.

These canids were mainly ignored until it was decided that they could provide fur and meat and those things earn money. From that point onward, especially after all other game had been killed off, the fox faced what writers over the centuries referred to as vulpicide –extermination through bounties paid, trapping or hunting and despite all the hunters noting that the Old foxes were nearing extinction they continued to hunt until by the late 1880s the Old were gone and replaced by the New –foxes imported by the thousands every year for the ‘sport’ of fox hunting and this importation also led the the UK seeing the appearance of mange (unknown before the importations).

The travelling British sportsmen went coyote, wolf and jackal hunting and on returning to England wanted to bring a taste of this to “the good old country”. Wolves, jackals and coyotes were set up in hunting territories from where they could learn the lay of the land and provide good sport later. Some hunts even attempted to cross-breed foxes, jackals and Coyotes.

Then there were the legendary –almost mythical– “beasts”; the black beast of Edale, the killer canids of Cavan and the “girt dog” of Ennerdale.

In more recent times raccoon dogs and arctic foxes have appeared in the UK; some released for ‘sport’ while others are exotic escapees long since established in the countryside.

If you thought you knew what fox hunting was about prepare to be woken up by a sharp slap to the face and the reality that, by admissions of hunts themselves, this was all about fun and sport and nothing to do with “pest control”.

Cat Attacks Fox Can Become Fox ATTACKS Cat

 

Last night I got clear footage of a cat-fox confrontation.

Over the years I have rescued 3-4 different foxes all cornered by different cats. Last night's little skirmish was my fault.

I put dry cat food out for hedgehogs or the odd stray cat. Only a small amount but it helps. I also put out two digestive biscuits and these allow me to see any fox up close and see whether there are any issues -injuries, mange etc.

After the semi feral black cat that lived in the garden and then next door for 11 years died there was an imbalance in the norm. She had kept fox visits to a minimum when she was out and about. Once she passed away more foxes visited/passed through. Then the unneutered tom cat from the house in front took over. The other cats were very casual and only here to hunt rats/mice. The tom cat decided that he was taking over.

Measuring him he is around 3 feet long (with tail) and certainly as big as any fox -when I opened the door to the postie one day he looked to his left and said "That is a very big one" -I checked and it was the tom cat. He now considers the doorstep his when he can be bothered to show up.

Last night the fox tried to get its biscuit but the cat was all hiss and claws and the fox snapped back from a safe distance; it had obviously been involved with a cat before!

After the "confrontation" the cat went about its business and the fox returned later to claim its biscuit.

So why am I not posting the video clips or photos? The answer is quite simple. Any still or the video clips could be used by anti fox people out of context: "Cat fights off attacking fox" or "Fox attacks pet cat". Excellent propaganda.

We are at that time of the year when the anti fox/ pro hunt people start posting about the infamous "ginger and white" pet cat carried off by a fox. That ginger and white one has been carried off more than the black and white cat in the last ten years. It's all to make fox hunting seem like control and the attempts to get fox cubs for hunts go unhindered.

First class video clips and stills would attract a lot of views but I am not interested in views. I am certainly not interested in being the person to supply images to be used to demonise any animal (especially when I know "the cat started it").

But it was my fault because the biscuits SHOULD have been placed away from the cat food. I just completely forgot. One thing I did learn was that a fox is NEVER going to try to attack a cat (even while the cat was hissing the fox was nosing around for food).

Fox With Fracture To Leg -X-rays and Treatment

 This fox was given some of the best treatment by a Bristol vet. Thoroughly checked over they even took full X-rays of it which is almost unbelievable but Sarah Mills' continued educating and talking to vets does pay off.

This is interesting in that we get a good look at a fox's internal structure while it is still alive rather than the usual post mortem views.

The X-ray showed that the fox had a minor fracture and just needed rest. As Bristol has no wildlife facility Sarah Mills transported it to Vale Wildlife Hospital in Gloucestershire to recover.

(c)2026 Bristol Fox Lady/British Fox and Wild Canid Study

(c)2026 Bristol Fox Lady/British Fox and Wild Canid Study

(c)2026 Bristol Fox Lady/British Fox and Wild Canid Study

(c)2026 Bristol Fox Lady/British Fox and Wild Canid Study

(c)2026 Bristol Fox Lady/British Fox and Wild Canid Study

(c)2026 Bristol Fox Lady/British Fox and Wild Canid Study

 The last two images show the mild fracture. There was talk of pinning the fracture although this was later ruled out.  It came as a shock when I was told that the fox had been put down and that he was not placing his foot down at all. Foxes can and do live active lives like this and even with a back or front leg missing -I posted about this here:

 https://foxwildcatwolverineproject.blogspot.com/2024/08/fox-leg-amputation-reason-to-kill.html

However, on this occasion it turns out that the staff were "gutted" as "they had all fallen in love with him".

He was been put to sleep as he was found to have high bilirubin levels. High bilirubin levels (hyperbilirubinemia) in wild canids is similar to domestic dogs and indicate underlying health issues such as liver disease, hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells), or bile duct obstructions. This condition results in jaundice (icterus)—a yellowing of the skin, eyes, and gums.

As much as we try to save a fox there are things that we can do nothing about and Vale did the best they could in this case.

Fox With Large Abscess

 On the 3rd December, 2025 a photograph and report of a fox "with a lump on its side" was received. Although Sarah Mills (Bristol Fox Lady/Bristol Wildlife Rescue) responded the fox was nowhere to be found.

The concern was that the abscess could burst and become infected so we were not too hopeful of seeing it again; foxes are notoriously bad to find if they do not want to be.

Above: the photo sent in plus an enlargement  -it doesn't really need to be circled to see it. In my opinion it was on the verge of bursting.  Again, as with the previously noted facial injury fox, this one was not seen again.

At the end of February the fox re-appeared and the above photo was sent in. An enlargement (below) shows clean skin and scabbing. It has been treated with antibiotics and the prognosis is good.,

Sadly, there are some rescues that would not treat an abscess -one in particular would have had this fox put down.

Foxes are tough and resilient and if anything they need more support when it can be given.

Fox Facial Injury -Self Healing

   This facial injury fox -most seem to be caused by car swiping- was one Sarah Mills (Bristol Fox Lady/Bristol Wildlife Rescue) had been looking for but as with most foxes it was not being cooperative. 

The fox was spotted again and most of the healing has happened by itself; foxes are tough and many do survive facial injuries. From experience I can tell the reader that the important thing is avoidance of any infect and once an infection does hit the smell you will always remember!

In this case Sarah took some anti-inflammatories so it means this fox will be one of the lucky survivors.