Lockdown and wildlife

[EpsomWolf]

A lot of deer will be dying off naturally around this time of year, old and young. Also, it might not have been that particular dog but there are loads of pet dogs big enough to take down a deer (depending on the species of deer) in the UK. One of my childhood dogs was a Deerhound cross Lurcher and he took down a few.

What did you do when this happened?

Been wondering for a while what the legal ramifications are as my dog like many others does chase them, but she’s a collie and getting on a bit now so can’t get near them, but it is one of those things that makes you a bit paranoid.

I think you can be prosecuted under the dangerous dogs act (or something like that) and given there are a lot of people about who’d want you prosecuted for even wearing the wrong type of wellies I think a deer kill is something you’d be in serious bother for.

 

[leedswolf]

I think you can be prosecuted under the dangerous dogs act (or something like that)

There is that, as well as Livestock Protection Act (applies to agriculural land) and the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

 

[Lycan]

What did you do when this happened?

Been wondering for a while what the legal ramifications are as my dog like many others does chase them, but she’s a collie and getting on a bit now so can’t get near them, but it is one of those things that makes you a bit paranoid.

I think you can be prosecuted under the dangerous dogs act (or something like that) and given there are a lot of people about who’d want you prosecuted for even wearing the wrong type of wellies I think a deer kill is something you’d be in serious bother for.

I take it you still live in Epsom? I lived in semi-rural Scotland at the time and attitudes are a little different there. Over 100,000 deer are culled every year in Scotland (legally, the real number will be much higher) so nobody is going to care really as long as it's clearly an accident and you're not using dogs to hunt for sport etc. They're a real harm to biodiversity and the population is completely out of control.

I contacted a local gamekeeper and he took the carcass away. Officially they were used as feed for a local bird of prey sanctuary as it was not fit for human consumption. Unofficially we had loads of venison sausages in the freezer for months.

I don't know what I'd do in Epsom, probably not own a dog capable of taking down a deer I suppose? I wouldn't worry for a second with a Collie btw, I owned a Collie cross at the same time and he couldn't touch the other one for speed and athleticism, let alone having the instinct to actually take the deer down.

My worry when walking my dogs was always more around cattle. They trample so many dogs each year, it happens way more than people realise.

 

[EpsomWolf]

I take it you still live in Epsom? I lived in semi-rural Scotland at the time and attitudes are a little different there. Over 100,000 deer are culled every year in Scotland (legally, the real number will be much higher) so nobody is going to care really as long as it's clearly an accident and you're not using dogs to hunt for sport etc. They're a real harm to biodiversity and the population is completely out of control.

I contacted a local gamekeeper and he took the carcass away. Officially they were used as feed for a local bird of prey sanctuary as it was not fit for human consumption. Unofficially we had loads of venison sausages in the freezer for months.

I don't know what I'd do in Epsom, probably not own a dog capable of taking down a deer I suppose? I wouldn't worry for a second with a Collie btw, I owned a Collie cross at the same time and he couldn't touch the other one for speed and athleticism, let alone having the instinct to actually take the deer down.

My worry when walking my dogs was always more around cattle. They trample so many dogs each year, it happens way more than people realise.

Yes in Epsom, on the common itself. The dog is in the woods every day hence the paranoia. I did a bit of research and the common is owned by the borough council and maintained by them in conjunction with the forensic scrutiny of the 800 members of the Epsom Common Association. Unlike the (relatively) close London Parks of Bushy and Richmond there is no culling programme as far as I can see (not one published anyway).

Interesting you mention both cattle and the biodiversity issues with deer too. Since Covid cattle have been introduced to assist biodiversity and are there April to September. They do in fact make me very nervous but luckily they make the dog nervous too so we keep well away. Dogs have been banned from entering ponds fairly recently too as the tick treatment they have on their fur contaminates the water affecting delicate wildlife apparently. Going to those sort of environmental management lengths I’m surprised if the deer would be left to roam uncontrolled if they negatively affect the biodiversity, but as said it’s unclear if they are. Also regarding the meat being unfit for human consumption, a neighbours dog died very suddenly in quite horrible circumstances recently and the vet suspected it was poisoning, probably from something it had eaten on the common. All that sort of stuff makes you think and I suppose we’re always trading one risk for another.

Anyway, sounds a very different dynamic and attitude to deer kills you had in Scotland. Pretty sure we’d be named, shamed and strung up ourselves if it happened here but they are getting out of control and we must be getting to the stage something has to be done.

 

[EpsomWolf]

Birds sounded particularly loud today so did a longer Merlin recording and picked up a good few species I’d not heard before. Never sure how precise the App is and time of year maybe, but hopefully our man-in-the-know Keef can shed some light on the likelihood of the new ones being accurate.

The ‘regulars’:
Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Great Tit, Parakeet, Robin, Blue Tit, Wood-Pigeon, Magpie, Wren, Collared-Dove, Crow, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Nuthatch, Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jackdaw, Canada Goose, Dunnock, Blackcap.

New ones today:
Coal Tit, Greenfinch, Redshank, Long-tailed Tit, Yellowhammer, Mistle Thrush, Green Woodpecker, Treecreeper.

The Treecreeper was marked up as ‘uncommon’ and the Yellowhammer as ‘rare’. I don’t know about any of that but regardless, much nicer to walk and listen to all of that than in the cold, head down with a podcast.

 

[Keef]

Where were you walking? Woods, riverside, farmland ?
coal tit is a possibility, I get them occasionally on the garden feeder.
Greenfinch fairly common

Redshank is mainly marshes, lakes and reservoirs a bit less often.

Long tailed tit common, very likely

Yellowhammer is mainly heath and farm land, wood edges, don’t know about that one tbh.

Mistletoe thrush, common, very likely

Green woodpecker, fairly common, more wood edges, common land, sounds a bit like a laugh, hence it’s other old time name of yaffle.

Treecreeper very common, usually more seen running up and around tree trunks than heard

Dunno if any of that helps you.

 

[pagey]

Where were you walking? Woods, riverside, farmland ?
coal tit is a possibility, I get them occasionally on the garden feeder.
Greenfinch fairly common

Redshank is mainly marshes, lakes and reservoirs a bit less often.

Long tailed tit common, very likely

Yellowhammer is mainly heath and farm land, wood edges, don’t know about that one tbh.

Mistletoe thrush, common, very likely

Green woodpecker, fairly common, more wood edges, common land, sounds a bit like a laugh, hence it’s other old time name of yaffle.

Treecreeper very common, usually more seen running up and around tree trunks than heard

Dunno if any of that helps you.

Notice your from ashmore, assume you went to coppice, did Prescott generate your interest in Birds? If Carlsberg did teachers....

 

[EpsomWolf]

Where were you walking? Woods, riverside, farmland ?
coal tit is a possibility, I get them occasionally on the garden feeder.
Greenfinch fairly common

Redshank is mainly marshes, lakes and reservoirs a bit less often.

Long tailed tit common, very likely

Yellowhammer is mainly heath and farm land, wood edges, don’t know about that one tbh.

Mistletoe thrush, common, very likely

Green woodpecker, fairly common, more wood edges, common land, sounds a bit like a laugh, hence it’s other old time name of yaffle.

Treecreeper very common, usually more seen running up and around tree trunks than heard

Dunno if any of that helps you.

I walk on Epsom Common twice a day, it’s mostly woodland with paths but I like to get off piste in the denser middle. There’s a bit of heath and a large pond/lake in the middle too so I suppose a bit of everything to cover all of the suggested preferred habitats.

I did think about taking binoculars next time but I’m terrible at spotting things, even at the moment when the leaves are very small.

Forgot to mention the Common Firecrest which was also a new one today. That’s got a ‘rare’ marker against it on the app too but

 

[Keef]

Notice your from ashmore, assume you went to coppice, did Prescott generate your interest in Birds? If Carlsberg did teachers....

Yes, yes and yes and he’s still a top bloke

 

[Keef]

I walk on Epsom Common twice a day, it’s mostly woodland with paths but I like to get off piste in the denser middle. There’s a bit of heath and a large pond/lake in the middle too so I suppose a bit of everything to cover all of the suggested preferred habitats.

I did think about taking binoculars next time but I’m terrible at spotting things, even at the moment when the leaves are very small.

Forgot to mention the Common Firecrest which was also a new one today. That’s got a ‘rare’ marker against it on the app too but

Firecrest is a great tick to get if thats knocking about.
If you see someone with binoculars on your walk go talk to them and ask them to share their knowledge, helps you, cheers them up because they’re helping pass on their knowledge

 

[EpsomWolf]

Thanks Keef, will do.