Words fail me yet again!!!

Conservationists have condemned plans that would allow buzzard nests to be destroyed and the birds of prey taken into captivity to protect pheasant shoots. The Environment Department (Defra) is to spend up to £375,000 researching ways to keep buzzards from targeting captive-reared pheasants. Proposed methods include destroying nests to prevent birds breeding, catching and relocating [...]

More badger diggers in court

16 April 2012 THREE men have appeared before Selby magistrates charged with digging for badgers. The alleged offence is said to have taken place at High Eggborough Lane in Eggborough on January 8 this year, and ended with a terrier dog called Jake being injured. Before the court were Lee Whinfrey, 28, Nathan Whinfrey, 25, [...]

‘Twisted’ badger baiter Anthony Lee jailed

A man who urged his dog to attack and kill badgers and kept footage of the fights on his phone has been jailed. A magistrate wiped away tears while watching three videos of animal fights that Anthony Lee, 23, recorded. Lee, of Coronation Way, Keighley, West Yorkshire, admitted three counts of animal fighting and was [...]

Hunt terrier man fined over fox ‘in a barrel’

A LEADING member of Peterborough’s Fitzwilliam Hunt has been fined for a breach of anti-hunting laws. Gamekeeper John Bycroft (67), who is the terrier man to the Fitzwilliam Hunt, was found with another man using terriers to flush foxes from underground dens. But he fell foul of the law after putting a live pregnant vixen [...]

Hunt master fined over gun charges

A LLANBEDR hunt master has been fined £3,500 for ‘losing’ two guns and leaving a pistol in his car. Alan Owen, 63, of Glandŵr Cottages, Llanbedr, who is the Llanbedr Master of the Hounds, pleaded guilty at Dolgellau magistrates court this week to three charges of failing to comply with the conditions of a shotgun [...]

Scottish gamekeeper guilty of wildlife crime after trapping owl

Scottish gamekeeper guilty of wildlife crime after trapping owl A Kirriemuir gamekeeper has admitted illegal trapping an owl in a cage trap. Robert Christie, 58, of Lindertis Estate, Airlie, pled guilty to the offence, which occurred in 2010, and was admonished at Forfar Sheriff Court. The tawny owl suffered an injury to its beak and [...]

Rural gangs linked to drug operations

Poaching and hare coursing gangs often linked with major drugs operations are behind most crimes against wildlife. In Cumbria last year, 363 wildlife crimes were reported to the police and of those 211 involved poaching, hare coursing and lamping – hunting animals at night with high-powered lights. In one incident at Sandysyke near Longtown, three [...]

Welsh badger cull scrapped in favour of vaccination

Farmers and unions have described the decision not to cull as a betrayal The Welsh government has dropped plans to cull badgers as part of an attempt to wipe out bovine TB in cattle. Environment Minister John Griffiths said he had instead opted to vaccinate the animals after carefully considering the scientific evidence. A review [...]

Advisers warned government on badger cull

UK badger culling plans could kill tens of thousands of the animals, worsen the cattle tuberculosis problem, and put the country in breach of a European wildlife treaty, advisers have warned. The government is to allow culling in England to curb cattle TB, with a similar move possible in Wales. The Labour Party used Freedom [...]

Canada Geese cull protestors at Bowness Bay today

Protestors gather at Bowness Bay to oppose the culling of 200 Canada Geese PROTESTORS against the culling of 200 Canada Geese gathered at Bowness Bay today. Between 50 and 100 campaigners chanted ‘Kill the cull’ and held up banners saying ‘Peace for Geese’ and ‘Shafted by the LDNPA’ to oppose the proposed culling this spring. [...]