When a fox must die

WITH the present controversy regarding the rights and wrongs of fox hunting, now is the time to consider the fox itself.

The fox is certainly not an ugly mobile slaughterhouse which chases around the countryside intent on ruining the farmer.

There is no doubt, however, that some foxes are a menace. They find their way through fences to catch hens.

When they have killed one, they try to find their way out and it they cannot see the exit they panic and kill all the birds.

This is why farmers are quire right to shoot foxes but the more efficient way to protect their stock is to maintain fences.

Here also is an added reason for walkers to respect fencing and follow marked footpaths.

Having said that some foxes are a menace, there are other individuals who do no damage at all and may well do some good.

The main item in the diet for most foxes is rabbits and this is one way of controlling these animals.

Rabbits can do as much damage in financial terms as the fox.

A week or so ago I watched a fox feeding on elderberries by standing on its hind legs and pulling down the ripe berries.

These days we must not forget the urban fox. More foxes now live in our towns and cities than in the countryside.

The critics of the fox say that it could spread rabies.

Considering that we do not have rabies in Britain, this accusation does seem to be unfair on the fox.

In towns, foxes live in drains and in overgrown cemeteries and large gardens. They move out at night and visit dustbins, especially those of restaurants.

The town fox lives very well indeed and I once watched a vixen having a meal of curry.

The final insult to the fox is to say that it is ugly and that it stinks.

Actually, it is an attractive-looking animal.

It certainly does smell but this is the way that foxes recognise each other.

The next time you spray on perfume or aftershave you should remember that to a fox we probably smell awful.

In summary, we have to accept that the fox is attractive, cunning and very intelligent.

There is no doubt that in some areas it has to be controlled but it is by no means the villain which it is too often portrayed.

Up from Down Under

AS you read this I shall be heading home from a working trip to Australia. I will tell you more about this next week.

In the meantime I am told that migration is in full swing and my mailbag is bulging with sightings.

Common sandpipers and pied flycatchers are now on their way to Southern Europe and Africa. Swallows are now gathering in huge numbers and the swifts have already departed to warmer climes.

As I was preparing to fly out to Australia I saw a heron fly parallel to the airport runway and a fox trotted along the M56 motorway close to the airport. The way that our wildlife is able to adapt to our modern environment never ceases to amaze me!

Observer's view of birdlife (Reader's letter)

I FELT that I wanted to write to you to tell you about some of my observations of he bird population over the years.

No Ron, this is not a letter regarding predators.

We both have our views about those and I see no reason to go on about them here.

I have always been interested in birds and the countryside in general.

I still have my Observer Books that I got as Sunday School prizes in the 1940s.

They are still excellent reference books and my grandchildren often take them to bed with them as a late night read.

I am a keen pigeon fancier and fanciers notice the wild bird population.

I have lived on Haslingden Old Road for 22 years and have taken an interest in the bird population around my house.

What made me decide to write to you were two recent statements from the RSPB.

The decline of the mallard was the first one that made news.

In this area I have seen more mallards during the last eight or nine years than ever before and this year has been no different. Lapwings had all but vanished from around these moors but this year they are back in very large numbers.

Only tonight I saw many birds flying over just as it had gone dark.This seems to be a trait of the lapwing.

It is usually the crow that is the last bird flying at night and he is usually the first on the wing in the morning, but these lapwings were zipping around at a fair rate.

I am not saying that the press releases are wrong but it shows that figures vary from area to area.

Another bird that lives in this area is the heron. They follow the old stream, Wham Brook, up on to the moors.

Incidentally, my house is an old toll house and among its many names it was once called Wham Brook Cottage.

This stream has all but dried up, which does cause concern.

After heavy overnight rain I used to go out early in the morning to attend to the pigeons and I could hear the stream rushing. This does not happen any more.

The curlews are more popular than ever and their cries in springtime are always looked forward to.

Of course, we have the ever-present magpies.

There are far too many of them and, while they are beautiful birds, they do a lot of damage to nests and nestlings.

We have starlings that nest in my roof that make a terrible mess when they are feeding young, but I put up with that. They must be the hardest-working parents around as they feed their young from first light to dusk. They tire me out watching them.

I look forward to the swallows arriving back in the spring. The time varies from the end of the first week to the third week in April.

They nest in my stable and often are successful in rearing their young.

Swifts are often seen swooping around in the summer, but these must nest on other properties. Sadly they will soon be gone for another year.

We have the sparrows and pied wagtails but the tits don't seem to venture this high up.

I have had an odd pair of skylarks nesting nearby but sadly these have all but vanished from the scene.

The kestrel is a common visitor, although I haven't seen them as much over the past two years.

They don't touch the pigeons and one often hunts for voles and mice over my land near the lofts.

I have seen the odd little owl but not for some time now.

In winter we get the fieldfares and occasionally geese, I think the Canada variety but you will know better than me.

It is always good to see geese going over. They make a marvellous sight.

With regard to the animal population, the rabbits are very rare now.

I used to have many on my plot and they got very tame.

I could get within 10 feet of them, talking to them.

I believe that we have had myxomatosis but I have not found any carcasses.

We do have a lot of foxes but I don't blame these for the decline. There are the weasels and I am always on my guard as they can make a mess of a loft of pigeons.

Rats are often seen around autumn and, of course, we can do without them.

The ones that I have shot are in lovely condition and are in first class health and very clean.

I am not keen on using poison as you never know what else takes it.

The mice also become a problem in the autumn as they seek a warm place for the winter in my house.

I can't stand them in the house.

I saw a bat the other week zipping around the house at dusk. This is the first that I have ever seen up here.

Maybe it was just passing through, as I have looked out for it since but never spotted it.

Well Ron, I hope that you don't mind me writing to you.

I do enjoy your broadcasts and writings, even though we have differences of opinon regarding predators.

Keep up your writings, not many people know what beauty and intrigue is available to all in the countryside.

BRIAN TATTERSALL, Moorfields, Haslingden Old Road, Oswaldtwistle.

RON REPLIES: As Brian says, he and I will never agree concerning the behaviour of predatory birds with regard to pigeons.

We do, however, agree on most aspects of conservation.

I must say that I agree with his observations on lapwings and mallards.

This letter proves that compromise is the only way forward if the fauna and flora of East Lancashire are to thrive.

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