Piran C.L. White, Geraldine A. Newton-Cross, Rebecca L. Moberly, James C.R. Smart, Philip J. Baker, Stephen Harris. (2002).

The current and future management of wild mammals hunted with dogs in England and Wales.

Journal of Environmental Management 67 (2003) 187-197

 

Reviewed by Eithne Mac Carthy 

 

Red fox: Vulpes vulpes                                   Red deer (Elk): Cervus elaphus

Class – Mammalia                                          Class – Mammalia

Order – Carnivora                                           Order – Artidactyla

Family - Canidae                                             Family - Cervidae

 

Brown hare: Lepus europaeus                        Mink: Mustela vison

Class – Mammalia                                          Class – Mammalia

Order – Lagomorpha                           Order – Carnivora

Family - Leporidae                                         Family - Mustelidae

 

 

Summary of abstract from original research paper:

In the UK today, public opinion of wildlife is evolving and concern is being raised for methods of their control and their effects on animal welfare. In England and Wales, dogs are still used to hunt foxes (Vulpes vulpes), red deer (Cervus elaphus), brown hares (Lepus europaeus) and mink (Mustela vison) and this has led to political debate and government enquiries on the future of this form of hunting (Burns et al. 2000). As research for this paper a questionnaire was commissioned to examine the effectiveness and acceptability of the various methods of hunting currently employed, and future changes in management of these wild mammals if a ban on hunting with dogs was passed.

It was concluded from this questionnaire that there was no direct relationship between culling pressures and perceived pest status of the various species. The questionnaire data also showed that a ban on hunting with dogs would have only a slight impact on fox, deer and mink populations but could be of conservational benefit to hares.

 

The questionnaire

Questionnaires were distributed evenly by region to obtain a balanced sample across the whole of England and Wales and keep any bias to a minimum.

The following regions were selected North East, East Anglia, South East, South West, Wales, North West, Central England. Two different questionnaires were developed for practitioners (farmers, foresters, fish farmers, game keepers, nature reserve managers etc.) and the general public. Questions required factual answers or the respondent’s opinion regarding “the effectiveness, use and acceptability of different forms of population management “  (P.C.L. White 2002) using a 0-10 scale.

 

As with any survey, an uneven sample existed despite a random selection of respondents. “People who are more interested in the topic will be more likely to respond, and a disproportionate number of people from certain social classes, less educated or more elderly people may be less likely to respond.” (Sapsford, 1999). No direct relationship between culling pressures and perceived problem levels was found (P.C.L. White et al., 2002). 60% of practitioners responded in comparison to 54% of the general public. 9% of practitioners thought that the hunting of wild mammals with dogs should be banned versus 58% of the general public. (P.C.L. White et al., 2002)

 

 

 

Hunting Act 2004

Extends only to England and Wales (Scotland had a previous act – Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002). Rats and rabbits are exempted from this law. Stalking and flushing out is permitted to prevent or reduce damage to livestock/game birds or wild birds/food for livestock/crops/growing timber/fisheries/other property caused by a wild mammal. 

 

Hunting with dogs is a well known method of population control but Baker et al.  concluded that “cessation of hunting during the UK Foot and Mouth Disease epidemic of 2001 had no significant impact on the fox population”.

Secondly, in this study, the data proved that the role of legal hunting with dogs in population control for brown hares, red deer and mink had little use in population control. Most practitioners agreed with this result saying “a ban on hunting would make no difference to the management of any of the four species”  (P.C.L. White et al., 2002)

 

 

Conclusion

This study concluded that banning hunting is unlikely to increase culling of any of the four study species and in the event of a ban being passed by Parliament, a ban on snares would also be required to bring Britain in line with the rest of the EU and prevent any future potential costs in animal welfare.

 

 

    

  Vulpes vulpes         Cervus elaphus       Lepus europaeus       Mustela vison        

 

 

 

 

 

 

Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu

 

Journal of Environmental Management. Elsevier.

http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/622871/description#description

 

Hunting Act 2004

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2004/20040037.html