Pest Control

Pest Control

The concept of hunting with dogs as a form of pest control is a contentious issue for anti-hunt campaigners, as is the belief by some groups, that the ritual of the hunt might actually be kinder to the fox when compared with shooting, poisoning, snaring or gassing.

An understanding of how foxes control their own birth-rates based on availability of food is the first step in resolving this debate. The second is clearly one of common sense. Animal rescue centres have been capturing foxes humanely throughout history in order to administer treatments for various ailments. There is absolutely no need to shoot a fox from a distance or while in motion and take the risk of leaving a wounded animal to die a slow death. In this light, we feel that any method of pest control that involves 'prolonged suffering' is cruel and entirely unnecessary. These would include at a minimum: hunting with dogs, shooting from a distance or in motion, gassing, snaring or poisoning.

Throughout this campaign, we plan to investigate a range of preventative solutions available on the market and provide you with feedback on these pages. In the interim, we hope the links below may be a useful source of information.

These documents developed by Natural England (www.naturalEngland.org.uk) provide important facts about fox behaviour, suggestions about how to avoid problems with foxes, and advice relating to various types of pest control.

SIN004 - The red fox in rural areas (opens in a new tab/window).

SIN003 - Urban Foxes (opens in a new tab/window).

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David Cameron is quoted as saying:

"My own view is the hunting ban is a bad piece of legislation, it hasn't worked, it has made a mockery of the law, a lot of time was wasted on it, and I think we would be better off without it. That gives you a clue to how I will vote."

We say:
The only mockery of the law would involve David Cameron repealing a law against cruelty because some of the most powerful people in this country simply refuse to obey it.

If the law is not working, it needs to be strengthened and enforced! We need leadership not ringleaders.

Media training for hunters!

The Countryside Alliance have arranged ‘media training’ for the hunting elite in the run up to the next election. They want you to see a more human side to these people and not the frightening behaviour so evident in earlier interviews.

Hunting as a form of Pest Control?
They now describe the hunt as a form of pest control. These are the very people who claimed to be nurturing the environment in which foxes breed and flourish.

Pest Control or Breeding Foxes? Which is it?

'Cubbing' re-branded to 'Autumn Hunting'

The hunts have renamed ‘cubbing season’ to ‘Autumn Hunting’; they want you to picture a brisk ride through the leafy countryside rather than the image of little fox cubs being tortured and slaughtered in the process of training the younger hounds.

They continue to claim that they hunt only old and sick foxes - as though that might make their behaviour more any less cruel. How then do they explain 'cubbing?

Killing old foxes or fox cubs? Which is it?

Gang Behaviour

Bullying

Outnumbering

Chasing

Frightening

Killing

Removing a body part for a 'trophy'

In any decent society, this is considered vicious gang behaviour. The hunters call it 'FUN'.
The link between cruelty to animals and cruelty to humans has been proven throughout history.

Make your vote count for something better than this!

Caught out again!

Straight from the horses mouth:

'The Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance replied in a somewhat stroppy e-mail to the effect that this was rather undermining the case for fox-hunting, which publicly at least was claimed to about pest control. Breeding pests in order to control them by hunting might look 'suspicious', he said.'

Click on the link below to read the full story:

http://borthlas.blogspot.com/2009/10/kiss-and-make-up.html

From the textbook:

Here is an extract from Foxhunting by the late Duke of Beaufort, Master of Fox Hounds, published by David & Charles, 1980.

He wrote: "Never lose sight of the fact that one really well-beaten cub killed fair and square is worth half a dozen fresh ones killed the moment they are found without hounds having to set themselves to the task. It is essential that hounds should have their blood up and learn to be savage with their fox before he is killed."

The hounds have to be taught to kill fox cubs as they are not natural enemies!

Drag Hunting - Why Not ?

There is no case for repeal. Hunt numbers are up all over the country. Drag hunting is legal. The sense of community, pageantry, heritage, and jobs are all still intact and yet these disgraceful people can’t manage to enjoy themselves unless they are terrifying and killing animals.

Muzzle the hounds, train the new ones to hunt only an artificial scent and move on to a more civilised sport that everyone can be proud of!