Pine martin release on dartmoor.

[slowworm]

Or am I just being too cynical here?

People can put their own prejudices on anything.

Although I'm not a fan of the pine marten release I most certainly don't want to harm them.

I carry out essential grey squirrel control so was rather surprised to read in my BASC magazine essential advice about not using lethal traps or drey poking.

I also note that despite some of the release info the martens are likely to spread out quite far so something they should be making very clear.

 

[Pattree]

Have I read this wrong?

- They were once indigenous to England.
- They were thought to have become extinct in England.
- They have subsequently been seen in England.
- Only after this observation were they released.

So:
They had already returned here before the release.
If the environment will support them then they would have colonised anyway.
If the environment won’t support then the introduction will fail.

I can’t see an issue here

 

[Paul_B]

I certainly do not think the Shooting Lobby should have a say in this. IF a released animal affected the artificially high populations of game birds then I think I would rather have the released animal personally. If that is prejudice to believe in increasing biodiversity and returning native species back to where they used to be and indeed may well have hung on as in the case of the pine martins in England then I am happy to be labelled prejudiced. Personally I do not think that is prejudice, but it is supportive of efforts to slow down the decline in biodiversity loss in our country which IIRC has one of the lowest levels of biodiversity in Europe.

I also think that the Hen Harrier would do better if they were not killed (nolled) or disturbed.

BTW if the gamekeepers do not want to kill tagged Hen Harriers is it possible to make sure they are all tagged?? Just an idea which I doubt will work (they will just kill and destroy the tag probably like the case that made the news not so long ago when a tagged one just disappeared).

 

[slowworm]

I certainly do not think the Shooting Lobby should have a say in this.

Did you read what I said or the link? Your reply does come across as very prejudice.

I'm am not saying anything about the impact on game shooting.

What I have clearly said is that I was only made aware of the dangers to the martens, from trapping grey squirrels and other grey squirrel control measures, from a shooting organisation (BASC) and the best advice I could find to explain the situation was from the GWCT.

I am not a game shooter, I control grey squirrels because they do a vast amount of damage to native native trees. Plenty of people and organisations control pests, such as grey squirrel and mink, including the RSPB.

Personally I think it is essential the release info very clearly highlights the dangers and, unless I've missed it, I am puzzled to know why they haven't.