Poison Suspected? REPORT it!

 The same applies to badgers or any wilod animal

If you ever take a sick fox into a vet and it dies then let us know, If the vet says "It's been poiisoned" then tell them it is a possible wildlife crime and as its poison the fox needs to be submitted to the Wildlife Crimes Investigation Unit or, in Bristol, contact Bristol Uni Post Mortem Services and ask to submit the fox for post mortem examination (PME).

If the vet refuses here is what to bear in mind:

While a vet is generally bound by strict client confidentiality, the [Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons](https://www.rcvsknowledge.org/.../when-is-it-safe-to.../) (RCVS) explicitly allows them to bypass this rule and report concerns to the relevant authorities if they believe the wider public interest or animal welfare is severely compromised.

The illegal use of pesticides or poisons can be reported to the government's [Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme](https://www.hse.gov.uk/.../wildlife-incident...) (WIIS) on 0800 321 600.

We have had seven vets in Bristol over the past few years who have told people "Its been poisoned" and in all cases the foxes were victims of car strike.

"Poison" -report and submit. NEVER EVER state an animal has been poisoned unless you have evidence as certain symptoms often quoted as evidence of poisoning can be related to other causes of death.

Thank you and good night Vienna.

Number 75

 075 Monday 13 07 2026 Dead badger on the side of The Portbury Hundred

The term "Portbury 100" most commonly refers to the Portbury Hundred (A369), a key dual-lane highway connecting Portishead to Junction 19 of the M5 motorway near Portbury, North Somerset.

Avon Badger Group -History and Papaers GONE. What About Bristol Badger Group?

 

Anything to do with the late Mike Collins and his work while running the Avon Badger Group seem lost. Avon Wildlife Trust just don't respond and BRERC claims all the data was returned to a group that ceased before 1994 and either a dead man or...or they are lying?

No photos seem to exist of Collins and I wanted to do a detailed historical lo0ok at ABG and his work. The one remaining member I could find (in her 80s) stated she never got any papers back and she also refuses to forward what she has/knows "I shall take them proudly to my grave".......

So anything Avon Badger Group is lost or being kept locked away.

Anhy of my stuff is destinned to go (I am going to box it all up in the next few weeks) to The Extinct Fox and Wild Cat Museum as I know my family have no interrest and it would all be burnt or binned and thertefore 50 years work would be gone.

KNOWN Badger 74!

 074 Sunday 12 07 2026 dead badgerClevedon Road top of Longwood Lane.

As I've written before -it's relentless.

The Actual Number of Badger Deaths in Bristol

 I did a recent post on the Fox Project Bristol and my blog about reported so KNOWN fox deaths and what the actual total might be.

 https://terryhoopernaturalist.blogspot.com/2026/07/182-reported-dead-foxes-total-is-higher.html

 That was scary enough but then I wondered whether statistics could guestimate the actual number  of dead badgers in the City and County of Bristol (yes, for those who did not know Bristol is not just a City). So far we have had 73 reported death so ....

The actual number of badgers killed is likely much higher than 73 . Experts estimate that up to (50,000\) badgers die on UK roads yearly. Studies show that for every dead badger seen and reported 2-3 others often die nearby or off-road from their injuries. Therefore, 73 observed deaths could mean 146  to 219 actually died.

First off it used to be 100,000 then 60,000now 50,000 is the estimate. I do not believe that after the cull took 300,000 badgers that 50,000 are currently dying. The population is so low and even though no longer present in certain areas (due to the cull) that 50,000 each year would mean we have 2-3 years before badgers are extinct.

I have asked Highways England and they do not record what dead animals their teams remove from roads. A simple email reading "Orpington  23 06 2026 badger" (or "fox" could be sent. How long does that take?  But local highway authorities such as Bristol City (Green) Council's Street Clean Team will not even cooperate: they just pick up and send for incineration.

That said, sadly, a total of 146+/- would not surprise me. And remember this is just road deaths not death by rodenticide, snaring or illegal killing by local badger men and badger baiting (yes, that still goes on).

Rather like foxes and the fast decreasing UK population I think it time English badgers were moved onto the Red List as a species facing extinction. 

Injured Badger. Cooperation?

 Last night we had a report of a badger seen dragging its back legs in the Novers Hill area. Sarah Mills has searched the fields but no sign of a sett. I have appealed on Bristol FDoxes and Badgers and here for anyone who knows where a sett is but no responses.

The Novers Hill Community group my posts to have been rejected all day and neither ofd the two moderators have gotten back to me.

THIS is standard Bristol coopperation on wildlife.

The hope is that, being tough creatures, the badger just got knocked and has bruising. The other alternative is that it is lying somewhere injured (likely a garden) or is dead.

Criticise me as being "negative" as much as you want but when it is a major fight to even get a response from one person I doubt my attitude will change.

Groups representing themselves as wanting to become recognised as nature reserves should actually CARE about nature.

Which is more important: money and ego or the wildlife?

 

If people think that this is a stress-free "little hobby"n they ought to try running things, dealing with idiots and supposed badger groups that are spouting dogma and clearly have never studied badgers.

Just saying.

Ridiculous having a certain organisation trying to undermine your group on a weekly basis but this is what wildlife work has become in the UK. Less concern for wildlife and more concern about £££££ and no cooperation.