snares

[petal]

Pah! it was the local vet that confirmed urban fox jaw formation differences - something to do with the type of food they have been eating for several generations. The gamekeeper recently shot a fox that had extensive repairs on a leg- metal plates etc- must of cost someone a fortune. He says rural foxes are healthy and rarely starve but urban foxes quickly starve, regardless of mange- (and are bold enough to encroach on the villages,) when placed out of their environment.

I love to see a fox with cubs in the spring when out horse riding, safe in the knowledge that my poultry are behind their electric fence, regardless of where that fox came from!

hope your dog is better baldrick!!

[TEB]

Pah! it was the local vet that confirmed urban fox jaw formation differences - something to do with the type of food they have been eating for several generations. The gamekeeper recently shot a fox that had extensive repairs on a leg- metal plates etc- must of cost someone a fortune. He says rural foxes are healthy and rarely starve but urban foxes quickly starve, regardless of mange- (and are bold enough to encroach on the villages,) when placed out of their environment.

I love to see a fox with cubs in the spring when out horse riding, safe in the knowledge that my poultry are behind their electric fence, regardless of where that fox came from!

hope your dog is better baldrick!!

The vet having a laugh, this link is the Bristol University Mamal Research Unit website, they have been monitoring urban foxes for quite a while, the link is to a typical urban fox diet which isnt that much different from a country fox The fox website | Urban foxes | Diet, it goes on to mention that 150 times as much food is available (not 15 like I said) for each fox.

[baldrick]

Im still fuming. The vet has taken the snare as we tested it (on my leg) and it didnt release when pressure was removed. Cleo was given medication for the swelling and is now back to normal. I have always been very much live and let live when it comes to country pursuits, but after this Im not. TBH in my opinion snaring is a lazy and indiscriminate way to catch anything. If the shooting fraternity wants to keep its dwindling public support they would do better than set snares in areas where people walk, especially near paths. They would also do better than employ the moron who has been threatening me with a theft charge (bring it on, Ive rung the police anyway to say its here with me) This person has also implied he knows who I am and that he will shoot my dogs on sight. To me, if someone is so lacking in intelligence they can set a snare on a path then brag and threaten in public about how dogs should only be taken to public parks if people dont want them snared then it speaks volumes about the danger of letting just anyone use them. Maybe cruelty and stupidity go hand in hand? I was pro shooting and game raising. After the treatment Ive had Im firmly anti.
Also please remember a lost dog is not necessarily a neglected dog. Ive spent a lot of time with doglost. There are many people frantic after their dog escapes from car accidents, boarding kennels, bolts from fireworks. To imply its ok for a dog to die after hours in a snare if its "neglected" is a bit off. I wont be adding any more to this, but please please. If you set snares its up to you to get off your bum and check them every couple of hours or you are guilty of horrible suffering followed by death. Personally Id like to see them banned altogether....and before Im accused of being a bunny hugger Id kill fox or human with my bare hands if it hurt my chooks but Im decent enough not to torture it first. If you have a strong stomach look on national anti snare campaign. See the springer spaniel who died on a walk with her owner. She strangled while her owner was looking for her. Apart from the blood running from her nose she looks like she is asleep. The foxes caught by snares set on bridges are a bit more horrific. They fell off and dangled until they died. Ok for a fox? Ok for a dog? Ok for a rabbit? Just coz you dont do this doesnt mean others dont. Please. Dont buy them, dont use them, get them banned and stop cruel morons getting their hands on them.

[baldrick]

Whose land? Surely only the landowner, or someone working with their consent, could legally set the things anyway!

Indeed. They are running scared after a description of the snare was published in the paper. I have been threatened with theft charge and that my dogs will be shot on sight. NICE!

[baldrick]

I saw a fox trapped in a snare once, it was going absolutely mental. it wasnt the most humane event i have ever seen and i am sorry to hear of your pets coming to harm.

Fox snares should have a stop on them, to prevent them closing up totally, saying that rabbit snares dont.
If it was a fox snare (two piece, thick silver coloured snare) and it didnt have a stop it is illegal and should be reported, if it was smaller and golden in colour it was probably a rabbit snare.

It was an AB fox snare, the old version that has been superceded due to an occasional tendancy to lock under pressure.

[baldrick]

You can get rabbit snares with stops, we use them occasionally. Rabbit gets caught overnight. Sits and waits ('cos it can't do anything else) till morning and is then shot.

What a last night. How awful. Please consider stalking or lamping to shoot instead. Poor things are without food water or shelter until you are out of bed then they are shot. Awful.

[veggiechicken]

Baldrick, I'm so glad to hear that Cleo has recovered.As for the hassle that you are having, that is totally unacceptable. I hope it is soon resolved to your satisfaction and that the perpetrator is publicly shamed. Bring back the stocks and we'll all come up and pelt him with rotten veggies.

[cptncrackoff]

i suppose the outcome will depend on whether it was a legal or illegal trap, and whether it was set on public or private land.
I personally grew up in an extremely rural enviroment... i dont live there anymore so if you like have a look on google.
CO11 2PJ.

I used to love seeing the boxing day hunt come past, the dogs in our garden, it was traditional and 'countrysidey'.
I have set snares for rabbits in the past, and ferreting. As i said, i saw a snared fox once, it wasnt pleasant, but i still beleive they are vermin, not all cuddly fluffy fun loving clean animals.
shooting is more humane, I have been out lamping, if the first shot is a clean kill its quick, if not, then probably not so, not to mention the shout they make.
Now i've moved out into a small town (and I dont keep their prey) I dont feel as qualified to say whether foxes should be culled or not, I do feel more in touch with the countryside than alot of the MP's, who make the decisions, although it appears most of them may have second homes out in the sticks!?
I do know that several 'manky' looking foxes have been down our road ripping open binbags, if they can get to them before the cats.
I do think that anyone (pro or anti fox) should be dealt with if they think its cool to threaten you or your pets though, hoping its all sorted quickly for you, no one likes trouble.
jon

[Hilary B]

Snaring rabbits for the pot is (within constraints) not totally unreasonable. Snaring foxes is another matter entirely.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of using snares in general there are other considerations.
Snares on public-access land are (as far as I know) normally illegal anyway (it may be possible for the landowner to seek consent, but I'm just guessing about that).
Unless the moron making threats actually OWNS the land I would say that the owner needs to be informed as to what he is up to. If he's the landowner, the whole thing should go to the police anyway.
If you and your dog had a right to be there, then you had a right NOT to expect snares (if there were grounds for using them on public access land, I am sure there would be a llinked obligation to warn of the risk).

[petal]

I would definately inform the police- snares should not be anywhere near a public right of way and
it certainly looks like they ought to be banned. I wouldn't even use one on a rabbit- not after watching watership down!!!!!!

[Two_Sheds]

several 'manky' looking foxes have been down our road ripping open binbags, if they can get to them before the cats

...but it's OK to kill foxes, not cats?

I have far more problems with "pet" cats than I have with foxes (if they're a pet, why are they allowed to roam the busy streets all day & night? Crapping in my garden, bothering the guinea pigs)

[cptncrackoff]

Dont use the 'C' word!!! you'll get moderated!

You can hunt feral cats by legal methods....

...theres one amongst the pigeons, so to speak!