I have not put the Raptor Persecution Post on here. The head line says it all up to the catalogue of events they have listed. Please read their site
72 hen harriers confirmed ‘missing’ or illegally killed since 2018, most of them on or close to UK grouse moors
For anyone who still wants to pretend that the grouse shooting industry isn’t responsible for the systematic extermination of hen harriers on grouse moors across the UK, here’s the latest catalogue of crime that suggests otherwise.
The blog below is a reply on the RaptorPersecutionUK site and the following paragraphs are my reply to that post. I have posted on that site too. If only I could do more.
THESE ARE MY WORDS AND THOUGHTS
A well considered and the full blog by John L to the recent events and blogs particularly on the RaptorPersecutionUK site make excellent reading. He makes his arguments well and there is one point that is pertinent to what could prevent the illegal killing of wildlife in the areas that he mentions. That is simply human activity in and around grouse moors or should I say National Parks. The irony with my last comment is that through royal decree we, the public, are restricted from much of the land area in England and Wales. That has to change.
It is only by ‘trespass’ that we can enter and walk on such land. The Right to Roam movement have shown how this can be done. Additionally, as was reported, some shooting activity was stopped by The Hunt Saboteurs. The point I made in the previous paragraph is that it is essential that members of the public get out there and observe at least. It is evident to me that proactive behaviour is necessary. The article on ‘cubbing’ emphasises my point. It takes motivated, determined and even courageous people to get our there and take adversity full face on. I can only applaud them for doing it.
Sadly the organisations we have are not funded enough nor should we expect the police service to have the operational strength to administer justice or oversee the shooting and hunting fraternity. This is a ‘class’ issue where patronage is still given to our protective organisations but those patrons still take part in the old pursuits of hunting and shooting. There has to be a change.
For me the problem lies in the class of people holding up those members who are in the higher echelons of society. They do it because they can and are supported by those on the ground. The, so called, gamekeepers, and as the name suggests they look after game to the detriment of our flora and fauna.
There has never been enough detection or prosecutions for wildlife crime but most of those convicted are gamekeepers. A question to be asked here is what the hell happened to ‘vicarious liability’?
To balance my response - I do read the GWCT newsletter and that in some circumstances people do have a right to hunt. That’s not for me though. But I have to accept that ‘man’ is the apex predator as we have removed all opposition.
It is best to start to change the inherent desire of some to carrying on killing regardless then the few will dictate to the many.
The next lines are John L’s & lifted from the site
A well considered and the full blog by John L to the recent events and blogs particularly on the RaptorPersecutionUK site make excellent reading. He makes his arguments well and there is one point that is pertinent to what could prevent the illegal killing of wildlife in the areas that he mentions. That is simply human activity in and around grouse moors or should I say National Parks. The irony with my last comment is that through royal decree we, the public, are restricted from much of the land area in England and Wales. That has to change.
It is only by ‘trespass’ that we can enter and walk on such land. The Right to Roam movement have shown how this can be done. Additionally, as was reported, some shooting activity was stopped by The Hunt Saboteurs. The point I made in the previous paragraph is that it is essential that members of the public get out there and observe at least. It is evident to me that proactive behaviour is necessary. The article on ‘cubbing’ emphasises my point. It takes motivated, determined and even courageous people to get our there and take adversity full face on. I can only applaud them for doing it.
Sadly the organisations we have are not funded enough nor should we expect the police service to have the operational strength to administer justice or oversee the shooting and hunting fraternity. This is a ‘class’ issue where patronage is still given to our protective organisations but those patrons still take part in the old pursuits of hunting and shooting. There has to be a change.
For me the problem lies in the class of people holding up those members who are in the higher echelons of society. They do it because they can and are supported by those on the ground. The, so called, gamekeepers, and as the name suggests they look after game to the detriment of our flora and fauna.
There has never been enough detection or prosecutions for wildlife crime but most of those convicted are gamekeepers. A question to be asked here is what the hell happened to ‘vicarious liability’?
To balance my response - I do read the GWCT newsletter and that in some circumstances people do have a right to hunt. That’s not for me though. But I have to accept that ‘man’ is the apex predator as we have removed all opposition.
It is best to start to change the inherent desire of some to carrying on killing regardless then the few will dictate to the many.
N.B. I am compiling a poetry collection on wildlife. It’s beauty and the crimes.
A recent trip into the mountain of Monnegre and on the back road to the village I was ordered to stop suddenly and there within a few feet of the car was an Ocellated Lizard - not large but of a decent size basking in the sun inches from the shade of a bush on the roadside,
I peered over the bonnet and Bryan leant out and took these two photos. it was not as colourful as some library shots indicate but the markings are clear. It is also called a Jewelled Lizard although this one was not as bright as some photos give it. The young should be appearing about now and next time we may look harder. On a morning with no mammals, butterflies or snakes this lizard made up for one that we don't often see.
This morning a little green visitor not more than 4 cm long had come to our property.
They are common in Iberia although mostly overlooked and unseen. It is classified as the European Dwarf Mantis. We try and make all visitors welcome.
An eMail arrived in my inbox & I have reproduced their intro below. I would encourage you to log onto their site and read it all.
Hunt Sabs Mobilise Against The Cub Hunters!
Hunt saboteurs have begun the gruelling fightback against cub hunting, one of the hunting world’s most sordid secrets.
The practice involves meeting at the crack of dawn – when the scent is strongest – to train new hounds to kill young foxes. Fortunately, the cub hunters are not unopposed: across the country, dedicated sabs have been up before dawn to save fox cubs wherever and whenever they can.
HOW DESPICABLE IS THIS?
I read this post (see below) on RaptorPersecutionUK this morning. I know there are nice and good people in this world and there are others who delight (it seems to me) in cruelty.
Their post carried the headline:
“Hen Harrier’s wings ‘removed’ & its Satellite Tag fitted to a crow in a sick ploy to disguise the crime.’
In December 2021 I blogged about a disturbing incident I'd heard about concerning a young satellite-tagged hen harrier whose wings had been ripped off - whether that was done when she was still alive or after she'd been killed was not known (see here). I understood the incident had happened approximately nine months earlier, in […]
The full post can be read on RaptorPersecutionUK
I’VE NICKED THIS HEADLINE FROM THE HUNT SABOTEURS.
NO IFFS, NO BUTTS: SHOOTERS SHAFTED ON GLORIOUS TWELFT
On the first day of the grouse shooting season, hunt saboteurs have shut down a huge driven shoot in the Yorkshire Dales.
HSA spotting teams were on patrol from early morning across vast swathes of upland England. As expected, those in the Peak District drew a blank: shooters there have learnt its best to stay in bed on the Glorious Twelfth!
Spotters further north had more to do, quickly locating a large convoy of beaters and shooters assembling on Abbotside Common, near Hawes.
The main body of sabs was quickly on the scene, climbing the moor in sweltering conditions and bringing all shooting to a halt!
Sabs were delighted to see that the shoot appeared to have wasted money on Countrywatch, an inept ‘security’ company who claim to specialise in protecting hunt and shoots. Their hired ‘muscle’ caused nothing but mirth, with the only serious concern being for the welfare of a poor Belgian shepherd dog that had been dragged on to the moors in 35° heat.
A more serious threat was presented by the police, who arrived in an assortment of vans, cars and even scrambling motorbikes. Unfortunately, many of the officers appeared to be suffering from severe heatstroke, accusing sabs of trespassing on what was obviously open access land. One particularly confused officer began trying to de-mask sabs before being bundled away by his colleagues. Despite these distractions, sabs stood their ground and the shoot was abandoned.
A HSA spokesperson commented from the scene,
“On the day that drought was declared across the country, grouse shooters have taken to tinder-dry moorland to blast away at our wildlife. What are they thinking? Every year, these selfish, entitled people kill hundreds of thousands of birds, burn precious upland areas and litter the landscape with traps and snares. Our message to grouse shooters is a simple one: expect us.”
PRESS RELEASE FROM NATIONAL TRUST VIA RAPTOR PERSECUTION UK.
Published : 22 Aug 2022
Seven hen harriers have successfully fledged from multiple nests on National Trust land in the High Peak, making 2022 the most successful year for hen harrier breeding on land cared for by the conservation charity in the Peak District for over a decade, despite two nest failures earlier this year.
The National Trust, RSPB and Peak District Raptor Group have been working closely together to encourage more birds of prey to live and thrive in the Peak District, by protecting birds currently living there, whilst also creating rich feeding and nesting grounds.
Work undertaken by the Trust includes cutting heather to allow a more diverse range of moorland plants such as sphagnum moss, bilberry and cottongrass to grow, which helps attract the different insects and small mammals which the birds rely upon for food. The charity is also working closely with tenants to ensure their land management practices support the vision for more birds of prey in the area.
Craig Best, General Manager of the National Trust in the Peak District said: “A great deal of work has gone into encouraging more breeding pairs of these majestic birds to the Peak District, so this is brilliant news.
“The presence of the birds indicates a plentiful and healthy food source, which shows the work we have done so far to improve the landscape is starting to provide ideal conditions for different species to thrive. However, we want to see more of these important birds of prey in the High Peak, as they play an important role in creating the right ecological balance in the landscape. That is why it is crucial that we continue to work together to achieve our aim of growing the population of birds of prey in the area and doing everything we can to prevent persecution.”
To help monitor the birds progress and to aid understanding of the species, the birds have also been fitted with tracking tags by the RSPB and Natural England. The National Trust also works with the local Raptor Monitoring Group.
Mike Price from the Peak District Raptor Monitoring Group said: “A mild winter, good prey availability and the fine weather during the nesting period have no doubt all contributed to what appears to be a successful year for breeding Hen Harriers both locally and nationally. It is another step along the journey to get a self-sustaining breeding population of Hen Harriers established in the area. Now the birds have fledged, the birds will face further threats, so we need to continue to work together to remain vigilant and do all we can to protect them.”
Visitors and local residents can help with conservation efforts by staying on footpaths and keeping dogs on leads during ground nesting bird season, which lasts from the beginning of March to the end of July.
