Madcowz Posted March 11, 2007 Report Share Posted March 11, 2007 Following the great trend for Top 100 count down programmes... I am interested as to what people feel are the worst and most damaging pest or predator species for a farm or shooting estate. What would you say are the top 10 worst pests and in what order? Would the fox come first or what about the mink. How high to squirrels rank and what about Jays, rabbits, pigeons, magpies and crows? Take into count their prevalence, damage done to crops/young birds etc. Be interesting to see what the general consensus is. thanks, /Mad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted March 11, 2007 Report Share Posted March 11, 2007 You ommited ramblers LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madcowz Posted March 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2007 You ommited ramblers LB You are so right, lets add Ramblers & Dog owners to the list. So far we have 1) Foxes 2) Corvids 3) Ramblers/Dog walkers/Trespassers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnGalway Posted March 11, 2007 Report Share Posted March 11, 2007 In order of magnitude on the annoyance scale for a Sheep farm. I voted fox in the poll. Anyone working for the Government or one of its agencies Foxes Rogue dogs Corvids The bobblehat brigade/tresspassers/others Cats Rats/mice Rabbits Mink Badgers (yeah yeah I know I can't do anything about them but they're still a PITA so I can list them) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poacher Posted March 11, 2007 Report Share Posted March 11, 2007 This all depends on the environment, for example a fox/crows maybe the worst predator in a predominately sheep farming area, and pigeons will have little effect. Where as a strcitly arable farms worst predator will be pigeons/rabits... As a generalisation i chose to vote fox as the worst predator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auto culto Posted March 11, 2007 Report Share Posted March 11, 2007 very difficult to choose from, it maybe better to separate the meat eaters and veggies into a separate poll as sheep farms differ to arable farming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted March 11, 2007 Report Share Posted March 11, 2007 FERAL CAT ! very difficult to choose from, it maybe better to separate the meat eaters and veggies into a separate poll as sheep farms differ to arable farming PREDATORS = MEAT EATER Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted March 11, 2007 Report Share Posted March 11, 2007 Perhaps the poacher is worth considering? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madcowz Posted March 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2007 PREDATORS = MEAT EATER ahh, but I did say pest or predator. As to some the pigeon eating their crop is just as damaging as a fox eating someone elses birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirky640 Posted March 12, 2007 Report Share Posted March 12, 2007 hawks but cant do much about them either it has to be crows as the nasty black birds peck out lambs eyes before they are dead !! its so sad to find a lamb out on the hill alive with no eyes dirty horidible crows got my vote cheers kirky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natures_son Posted March 12, 2007 Report Share Posted March 12, 2007 Badgers foxes hawks Mink Stoats weasels dogs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffolk shooter Posted March 12, 2007 Report Share Posted March 12, 2007 Guys, Surely none of them is any worse than another. What I mean is that each one of them causes damage in one respect or another and therefore they all merit being number one. However, if it's a pheasant rearing farm, then surely Fox/Mink/Stoat/Weasal/Magpie/Jay/Crow/Rat/badger rank as number one. If on the other hand it's an arable farm then Pigeon/Crow/Rook/Rabbit/Deer/Badger rank as number one. If its a sheep farm then surely, Fox/Badger rank as number one. Ultimately there has to be a balance of Vermin/Pests etc. to ensure that the world goes smoothly in terms of mother nature. Take one of these pests out completely and problems evolve. Take two out and then major problems evolve. I would have to say though that Rats have to be number one on anybodies list, for the diesease that they carry and spread, as well as the general damage that they do. SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kip270 Posted March 12, 2007 Report Share Posted March 12, 2007 Shooting Times done this a while back, and the No1 was CAT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted March 12, 2007 Report Share Posted March 12, 2007 I've been thinking about this at school today. It was more interesting than lessons and I've come to the conclusion of badger. The pigs have smashed through 2 layers of thick ply to get at my hens before. No fence will stop them if they want to get in. They are very vicious agressive predators which are forever increasing in numbers in my area. Trust me you do not want to try and evict a pair of snarling balls on pure muscle from an enclosed space which you are sharing. They should be allowed to be culled under the name of vermin. Not on the general licence but if you applied to DEFRA and showed a good reason then you could kill x ammount of the badgers that year. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 Badgers get my vote, we also have a problem with Buzards round us but again theres naff all you can do about it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 FERAL CAT ! very difficult to choose from, it maybe better to separate the meat eaters and veggies into a separate poll as sheep farms differ to arable farming PREDATORS = MEAT EATER I put mink for me aswell, as these are right little *******, along with grey crows ( carrion) But, at the moment, its stray dogs , had to shoot 9 in the last 2 weeks, the damage to sheep has been unreal. Wish some folks would learn how to control their muts. Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel b3 Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 whilst not being a predator , the thing that i've found that farmers hate the most is moles , i don't know why but on my shoots all of the farmers seem to have a pathalogical hatred of them , then again they might just be taking advantage of the fact that i poison/trap them for free Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fusion Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 It would have to be the wife!!!!!!!!! Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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