pavman Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 Farm next door shoot 3 Charlies in a very small area the other night and they said they did not look at home and seemed confused, there are quite a few in and around the town and a local gun said he has seen a RSPCA van in the area near the farms and one theory is they are playing catch (in town) and release (in country) in the hope they survive in the wild? Anyone have any experience of this? Is it legal? Why would 3 Charlies looking like fish out of water suddenly turn up out the blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 I believe it is illegal, from a thread a good while ago, however whether it is RSPCA or NFWT or some other "hugger" group...........who knows? I bet they lamp easy, and you will be able to squeek them in with a McD`s Box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 Its questionable whether the RSPCA would do it as they generally know what will happen to them if they drop them in shooting areas. However the new breed of pest controllers working in towns seem to be being asked more and more not to destroy them but release them somewhere far enough away so they don't come back To add a new dimension to it we had a load dropped off a few years back that had been neutered they didn't last long as they lamped very easily but that is really some messed up animal charity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommo Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 Do you know what, this is actually quite interesting as l'm sure it goes on all over the place. I shot a fox a month or so ago, that near walked up to me in daylight - healthy (over healthy fox) if you ask me, makes you wonder!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenhunter Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 Thought it was illegal to release vermin, but thought foxes are not considered vermin so I wait your comments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommo Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 That's irrelivent mate, RSPCA have more clout than the police (they often) in most cases tell them what to do with animal related incidents! They can get court orders quicker too - l've even seen them release stuff on Tv which has been controversial. I think what's more important is whether its right or worng to release them, and what affect this will have on the existing population? - are the farmers asked? Doubt it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 You've only got to watch Animal Rescue to see him release foxes back into the wild. No-one bothers to stop him doing it because "he's doing a good job!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenhunter Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 That's irrelivent mate, RSPCA have more clout than the police (they often) in most cases tell them what to do with animal related incidents! They can get court orders quicker too - l've even seen them release stuff on Tv which has been controversial. I think what's more important is whether its right or worng to release them, and what affect this will have on the existing population? - are the farmers asked? Doubt it! Its irrelevant as far as the RSPCA are concerned not for us mere mortals!! I agree with you apart from that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pavman Posted December 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 That's irrelivent mate, RSPCA have more clout than the police (they often) in most cases tell them what to do with animal related incidents! They can get court orders quicker too - l've even seen them release stuff on Tv which has been controversial. I think what's more important is whether its right or worng to release them, and what affect this will have on the existing population? - are the farmers asked? Doubt it! RSPCA have no more clout in law than you or I Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommo Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 Thats what l was meaning fella, They have guidelines drawn up by the likes of Noddy. I remember them walking into my back yard years ago and confiscating our Whippets telling us they were under nurished and underweight, returning them promptly after being told by a vet wheat they were. - The same people were on TV a week later recieving an award for their efforts in the area! Trouble is they employ a lot of kids too, that are volenteering their time and labour........works experience for LACS no doubt! all of which with no knowledge and a college course in 'Animal Wellfare' .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libs Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 I live in the out-skirts of London, and every Tuesday night (day before rubbish collection) I can look out of my window and see up to 5 foxes all tearing bin bags apart and dragging **** up and down the road and my dog has already caught mange from them once. I really wouldn't care what happend to the foxes from around here, and if they get dropped into the sticks and swiftly make friends with a fast moving pointy piece of lead, all the better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 (edited) We shot 11 foxes in an hour on the same field, following a tip off about a local vet releasing foxes. All of them sat still for the lamp, showing none of the wariness of rural foxes. All of the 11 foxes shot were discernibly non-rural animals: some of had shaved patches and sutures, all were distinctly larger than those we shoot throughout the year, almost all had skin diseases. It was not sporting shooting picking them off with a .243, and to be honest I doubt those 11 foxes would have lasted long out here in the wilderness. We're close to several towns and arterial roads here, with a lot of vets' practices dotted around. It wasn't an RSPCA van that I watched releasing two fat foxes (which were later shot) during harvest. It was just an anonymous estate car, and a non-uniformed bloke. Edited to add that I am sure inspecting the stomach contents will give conclusive proof of catch and release. Released foxes will be full of Pedigree Chum and doner kebabs. Edited December 23, 2008 by Baldrick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexm Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 (edited) I don't believe it is illegal to release indigenous animals is it? They (RSPCA and Bristol Uni) have released tagged foxes round here. The local estate keeper has accounted for a good proportion of them! Non-indigenous animals such as grey squirrel and mink are definitely illegal to release though (i.e. if you catch/trap one you cannot re-release it). Talking about TV programmes... on Channel Five recently there was an episode of Wild Animal ER focussing on deer RTA's. They picked up an injured and screaming Muntjac from the side of a main road and took it back to the wildlife hospital. They had also transported a roe doe with two broken legs and a roe buck with a broken and hanging antler in velvet which they plaster casted! I was under the impression that the transportation of injured deer was illegal under the Movement of Animals Order? Yet here they were doing it on national television! Edited December 23, 2008 by alexm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 Even worse the scum can now get licences to release grey squirrels in areas no longer populated by the reds. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 alexm, you're in livestock farming territory though, which makes the releasing of foxes extremely stupid behaviour. We're arable in Essex and mixed farming elsewhere, but it's been in Essex that we've predominantly had the releasing occurring. If I caught wind of anyone releasing foxes near stock, I would get rather upset. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexm Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 alexm, you're in livestock farming territory though, which makes the releasing of foxes extremely stupid behaviour. I agree totally, I think it's a ridiculous idea too, I was just answering the query about it being supposedly illegal. Round here the majority of the foxes that are captured are urbanised and are then released into rural settings where they get themselves killed (be it by disease, starvation or bullet) rather quickly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy the Kid Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 I have shot 3 foxes over the last 6 months or so that seemed to have no survival sense,Isuspect these were released urban foxes.I totally agree that these releases are irresponsible,urban foxes are scavengers not hunters and are unsuited to life in the country. Billy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 Im pretty sure its only illegal to release vermin if they're not native to this country-ie grey squirrels. It does seem misguided to release an animal which has lived its life in suburban towns/cities where its lived on our waste perhaps and expecting it to automatically adjust to hunting.Then again-the RSPCA are an odd organisation anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommo Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 I'm not being funny but i wouldn't think twice about shooting an urban fox released in a rural area. Foxes are a menace anyway, imagine what a starving hungry Urbanite would do! and working along these lines surely the RSPCA know that is the case? Anyone see a programme a long while ago about urban foxes digging up smack, ket and other illegal drugs, then becoming addicted? ~ Apparently (heard this on the grapevine) the RSPCA can also get information on SGC/FAC holders around badger populated areas too, this has apparently came about because of the number of road deaths were becoming unexplainable - so the RSPCA now have the ability to do post-mortems on animal deaths on roads and then go 'inspecting' badger sites, and shoot lease owners properties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
955i Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 (edited) OK, not going in on the fox hunting front per se, I agree foxes must be taken in certain situations and I wish to state that from the outset. I believe that this may be occuring due to the RSPCA (who do not know much about any animal apart from cats and dogs) if it is them releasing the foxes (and there is no proof that there is) thinking that they are letting them back into a better environment than they were in previously. My main objection in this thread is the use of the word 'huggers' as I have seen in numerous other threads (and have been accused of myself). As far as I can see the point of hunting is: a) to scare pests off the farmers arable fields b ) to put some meat on your table yet I constantly see threads about foxes killed on land where there is no livestock and pictures of pigeon kills above numbers that a family could eat even if you were ****** and related to everyone. To my mind this is thoughtless killing for 'fun' and not the reason that it should be done. I know I am in the minority here, but a couple of hours free range shooting will scare pigeons off as much as building a small village in a field and pretending you are fighting the Viet Cong will, so why is there such an insistence on killing far more than you can use? No fights please, constructive discussion welcome. Edited December 23, 2008 by 955i Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 955i, enlighten me: why are you a member of this forum? Why are you hectoring people about shooting for fun? The point of pest control and sport in general appears to have passed you by. Perhaps you can explain to me, my fellow arable farmers and all other keen pigeon Shots why we should restrain ourselves in the face of vast flocks of pigeons. Do you know something about combinable crop yields that we don't? Tommo, your comment about the RSPCA and bagders is quite worrying. Not because I am at risk, but because of the information ill-trained RSPCA 'officers' might be privy to. I wouldn't trust an RSPCA officer with a biro, let alone keeping FAC holder details confidential. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 A dead pigeon won't eat any more crops. Besides birds can be frozen down, given away or sold. Not many farmers would be happy if you just shot a few then dissapeared as the birds would be back before you know it. Foxes are culled for reasons other than livestock protection such as helping to prevent gamebird predation and damage to other species. Even the RSPB culls foxes on its reserves! What's even more worrying is I was speaking to a nurse in the hospital last week who said that since some townie neighbours had moved next door to her in the country there had been no end of problems with foxes. They began feeding them every night to the extent that several were turning up at once. These then predated on her chickens and she even was confronted with a fox that would not release a live chicken from it's mouth even with a human pulling on the bird. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 955i From reading a few of your posts it would appear that you are highly competent in your chosen field, yet regretfully can know little about farming either arable or livestock. Take some time to learn what puts food on your table. What happens to the shot pigeon, pheasant etc, and why the control of vermin, pests, and deer is vital to British agriculture and livestock. webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trussman Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 OK, not going in on the fox hunting front per se, I agree foxes must be taken in certain situations and I wish to state that from the outset. I believe that this may be occuring due to the RSPCA (who do not know much about any animal apart from cats and dogs) if it is them releasing the foxes (and there is no proof that there is) thinking that they are letting them back into a better environment than they were in previously. My main objection in this thread is the use of the word 'huggers' as I have seen in numerous other threads (and have been accused of myself). As far as I can see the point of hunting is: a) to scare pests off the farmers arable fields b ) to put some meat on your table yet I constantly see threads about foxes killed on land where there is no livestock and pictures of pigeon kills above numbers that a family could eat even if you were ****** and related to everyone. To my mind this is thoughtless killing for 'fun' and not the reason that it should be done. I know I am in the minority here, but a couple of hours free range shooting will scare pigeons off as much as building a small village in a field and pretending you are fighting the Viet Cong will, so why is there such an insistence on killing far more than you can use? No fights please, constructive discussion welcome. As Baldrick says, it's simply pest control. Only complete Psychopaths get pleasure from killling. Besides, you'd be doing those released urban foxes a favour by killing them. Chances are they wouldn't last paticuraly long in an rural environment anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikee Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 a friend of mine was keeper on a local estate and reckons he's shot a fox with flea collar and a couple with a scars from a stitched wounds, he said he also shot 6 in the same field one night, they weren't scared of the lamp or the bang from his rifle, he's not the sort of bloke who is known for making stuff up either so i guess someone is letting foxes go into the country, damn cruel if you ask me, they don't stand a chance mikee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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