Why Does a Green Party Run City Council Care More For Development than wildlife?

 

We have just recorded the 16th dead badger in the City and County of Bristol.

Two dead ones at the wildlife death blackspot of Hick's Gate have been joined by a third one today. Bristol City Council refuses to look at that particular stretch of road as a location for a wildlife crossing over or under. It says it would cost money but it really has no interest in wildlife or the environment.

All we can do is record the deaths and just wait for the Hick's Gate Clan to be completely wiped out.

Badgers or foxes: if you know where they are keep quiet!!

 Every year there are several requests per month from people claiming to be students at various universities who want to film or photograph badgers and foxes in situ. Every single request is rejected and they should be. Today this message went out to Bristol groups:

"Hi! I am a student at Falmouth university currently doing a project on foxes and how the perception of them in society is conflicted- I aim to take some images of foxes in bristol, if anyone has any information on where they may be/ knows anyone who does i would be incredibly grateful! wanting to visit next week if anyone could help!"

There is a profile photo on the Face Book page for this person and it cannot be positively identified as belonging to the poster. There are no FB posts, photos or info and FB warns that this is a sign of a fake account. Every request has similar lack of info.

What is annoying is that a member of the Bristol Foxes and Badgers group immediately responded giving full location of year round active fox sites in an area.

There are people who look for this type of information and actively go out every night to shoot foxes for 'fun' (they like to call themselves 'sportsmen/women'. It is also coming up to cubbing season for badgers and foxes .

Badgers or foxes: if you know where they are keep quiet!!

Foxes, Badgers, Hunting, Extinction and Modern Dogma

 

Here are the facts.   What we know about badgers today is through modern badger watchers. My old hero Ernest Neal have found quoted dogma.  Every zoologist and naturalist reads Neal and his quotes (even if paraphrased) are everywhere.  

I was still surprised reading a piece by a zoologist just last week that stated "we have no idea how foxes and badgers interact if they meet at night" -which is a quote often used but never attributed to anyone.  In fact, field naturalists, badger watchers and fox watchers have known how they do/don't interact since at least the 1980s (likely further back than that just never recorded in (published) print).   Badgers setts can be found in gardens alongside fox dens. Two people who have observed the badgers and foxes on their property for more than three decades note the two species sharing a sett -probably the fox using a now no longer badger used section.  

There is even a report noting how a fox hunted in the 19th century ran into a badger sett where the badger "backed up" the fox until both were killed. The account is almost written as though this was a "known thing".

The question Neal and others since, basically because it seems that they preferred dogma to actual reading and historical research, have never answered is how wild cats never survived felicide campaigns; the Old foxes never survived vulpicide campaigns and neither did otters, polecats, hares, red squirrels and other species -the modern day extinction of the 1860s was fueled by hunting for 'fun' and profit. Luckily, these animals were all importable from Europe in their thousands (hence why the species tested all tend to have European species DNA).

But as badgers were subject to continuous melecide that wiped them out in large areas and I can find no information on badger imports how did they survive?

That answer is simple to come by and one I may feature in a post at some point.

All we know about foxes and badgers first appeared in Thomas Pennants 1771 book British Zoology. Some of this was reprinted in Thomas Bewick's History of Quadrupeds, 1790; Bingley's History of British Quadrupeds, 1809 and etc. etc. etc.  This 'borrowing' from Pennant and Bewick continued on into the late 19th century after which, species being extinct which meant no one could see or hunt them, it was easier to jump to modern (1900 onward) dogma. 

The Old fox types never existed despite the volumes of records of them as well as taxidermies because someone in 1970 had never seen one because by that time they had been extinct 100 years. When was the last time a naturalist/zoologist saw a living Dodo? They have not therefore the bird did not exist.  Oh, they have the taxidermies, written descriptions and accounts ?  Exactly my point.  We have the same for the Old type foxes -so why is all of that ignored? No money in it likely and people who can quote dogma as fact rather than get their backside off a chair or away from a free lunch.

All we know about British wildlife, its extinction, re-introduction, re-extinction and reintroduction comes from hunting literature. The noble naturalist gathered information because that was useful in their hunting for 'sport' and specimen collecting. The every day, all year round life cycle was basically: where are the foxes; protect them until cubbing season then kill the cubs with hounds for 'fun' (you got a special invite to the 'fun'); after that leave the foxes left to roam free because that meant when hunting season started the foxes could give longer chases and how long a chase lasted was as important, if not more so, than being in at the kill.

That was it. 

And now we see hedgehogs, badgers and other species, including the fox, heading for man made extinction once more. "A nation of animal lovers" is a chocolate box myth.

Sunday Notes

 

As the word is getting around again more badger deaths reported. Sadly, we have no one who can carry out post mortem examinations so each death has to be classed as RTA (road traffic accident) -even though we are aware people illegally killing badgers dump carcasses by the roadside so anyone even mildly curious thinks "car hit it".

Also, a couple new expansion setts in the City and County noted so we know there are over 50 in the area now.  Many are kept very quiet even from ourselves as people protect them and  hide their presence.

Is A Badger A Collie Dog?

It does not help if you are involved in wildlife work or rescue and people try to lead you on wild goose chases. Two people forwarded this to me yesterday evening concerned that it was out in the day and reported as "very agitated". A third person asked whether it was AI as they were far from sure the report was genuine.

Firstly, there are no signs of AI. The scene is lit up by street lights.  

 

I have a large data base of badger photographs and videos (but nowhere near as extensive as the fox archive) and a handy tool to identify images. It took 30 seconds to identify this 'Bristol' image.    

Credit states: ""Badgers are becoming an increasingly common site in Britain's towns and cities, where they both forage and establish their setts. It remains unclear whether badgers actively choose urban areas for their homesteads, or if they fail to move when we build around them. - Credit: Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire & Rutland Badger Group"

That check, confirmed by also using an online image check, saved the person who was going to check from wasting time and fuel and searching around a large area.

I have not included the poster's name in case they really are that daft that they do not know the difference between a collie dog and badger but I suspect a hoax.

In the past I have had calls for "injured fox lying out by the road" which turned out to be a fluffy toy (we know who perpetrated that hoax) and we have even had photos sent of foxes at different locations- more hoaxes using stuffed foxes.

In the time wasted on hoaxes some injured animal could be found and treated or taken to a vet to be put out of pain. The fact that drivers in the City and County drive into foxes, badgers, deer and otters and do not even stop or report what has happened is bad enough but that people in the area think it is funny top waste our time with jokes and hoaxes shows the disregard there is toward wildlife.

It is not a joke.

 

Another badger Death in Long Ashton: the Second in a Week

 

Above: the second badger in a week killed in Long Ashton -and with cub season looming this raises concerns.

Yesterday I had to record the 10th badger death in Bristol. Had it not been for someone chancing onto a Face Book post we would not have known about it.  

It was another badger killed in Long Ashton at the usual back-spot for these deaths. 

Although badgers are well known at the location Long Ashton Parish Council and the six "environmental concerned" Parish Councillors I contacted as well as the Secretary for LAPC have refused to discuss the matter or the impact new development will have on the badgers -money talks over the environment it seems.  

 Back in the 1970s I spoke to police officers who used to be on the patrols in ands around Long Ashton going back to the 1960s. They all told me how they carried a "badger bar" in the boot of the patrol car. This "badger bar" was a length of heavy lead pipe and was used to "despatch" any badger (or even occasional deer that had been struck by a vehicle. Vets were few and far between back then and they would not come out to deal with wildlife, therefore, the officer in the patrol car had to do the work.  

One thing noted was that previous serving police officers had been aware of badger activity in Long Ashton and the Ashton Court estate going back to the 1940s. 

The one consistent thing about Long Ashton Parish Council going back to my dealings with them in the late 1980s/1990s was that they had no interest in the badgers at all -if badgers were crossing the road and got hit by a car; so what? As one rather obnoxious councillor put it when responding to me; "They shouldn't cross the road should they?"

With development being planned all past surveys showing badgers, bats and even otters in recent years, being ignored it looks as though neither Bristol City Council nor Long Ashton Parish Council have the slightest interest in protecting any species -and this under a Green controlled BCC and (as noted) an 'environmentally concerned" LAPC.

Who?? Where?

 To answer the question of who views this blog (apparently the Badger Trust can't see us 😂 here are the all time stats:

United States

770

United Kingdom

370

Singapore

355

Hong Kong

156

Germany

100

Ireland

84

Canada

75

Sweden

61

Mexico

54

Vietnam

41

Brazil

26

Spain

24

France

24

Finland

21

India

18

Netherlands

10

Argentina

8

Austria

6

Australia

6

Other

178

On When We Stop Registering Badger Deaths in Bristol.

 

Re the Foxes and Badgers Death Registers (now combined).

The rule we go by is that we take all dead badgers and list them up to 30/31 December. We then add any late reports but by mid-January stop since by them the data analysis etc is completed and would need to be totally re-written if even one report was added.

The fact that no one is interested in the data posted means a 1 or 2 day re-write is not worth the time and effort. How many of the 364 members have read the published badger death results or even the fox deaths results?

Most views are from outside the UK which is strange -or shows more interest in badgers outside the UK?

Do I Use Google Maps to Plot Sett Locations?

map showing 2022 fox death locations

 I was asked whether I use Google maps to plot locations of badger setts as "it's an handy tool".

The answer is no. Google maps may be saved as "private" but it is far from that. Allow me to explain. When we carried out the Bristol Fox Deaths Study - https://terryhoopernaturalist.blogspot.com/2026/01/results-from-bristol-fox-deaths-and.html- we used a Google map set to private. There were just two people with access to that map and yet, in the space of two days, over 50 views were recorded. 

It made no sense that a private map under the Google terms had so many views. According to Google the maps you make are private unless you share a link. We did not.  Somewhere and somehow persons not allowed to view the maps were seeing them. I stopped using Google maps after an extra 25 views were recorded in one day.

As far as I am concerned animal safety is paramount. If I cannot guarantee 100% privacy on locations I am not using any internet tool.  Before the internet I started out with index cards and a good quality road map top plot locations etc of other animals. I still use the map and index cards -no one sees them if I do not want them to.  

If I give someone my word that a location will remain private then I stick by that. Since 1977 I have never broken that promise to anyone and I intend to keep those promises.

What happens to the information once I slip this mortal coil?  I have someone to pass it all along to. Avon Wildlife Trust will certainly not get a hold of it. the Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre (BRERC) will not get them. Both organisations have been asked for assistance in the past and the Trust has failed to respond on every occasion. BRERC considers  (I apologise for the ego but I need to quote others) "a noted naturalist" with n international reputation not worthy of seeing any records kept -remember that I was a UK police forces wildlife consultant from 1977-2018 and a m,ember of the Partnership Against Wildlife Crime but that, it seems is not enough to make me trustworthy.

So Index cards and map it will remain and after I am gone it is up to the successor what they do.

Badger Deaths 2026 updated

 I have just recorded the 7th and 8th (reported) badger deaths today. The latest was found in a back garden and thought to be a pet cat.  One of the local Lost and Found Pets people went out with a scanner to check for a chip and saw it was a badger.

above: not a cat but a badger (c)2026 respective copyright owner

Sadly, badgers and foxes often go unreported as people assume they are pet cats. Makes no sense but that's humans.

Bristol Wildlife Rescue

Are the Animals Important or Bureaucracy?

Anything concerning the welfare of Bristol wildlife or the environment is posted publicly so that everyone can see whether I am being open or not. It also shows full responses that I receive.

 "Dear Terry,

"Thank you for your further reply and for explaining more about your work and background. It’s clear that you and your colleagues have invested a great deal of time in protecting wildlife in and around Bristol, and I want to acknowledge that commitment.

"I understand your reasons for limiting the public visibility of volunteers. However, for a badger group to effectively serve the community, it does need a visible public presence with a clear remit and accessible contact details so that people know where to turn. That does not mean individual volunteers have to be publicly named. I also have lived experience of previously being a hunt sab in my own area and, alongside my role at Badger Trust, I am chair of my local badger group and a rescue coordinator, having been involved in badger rescue for over 10 years as well as training new members. I fully appreciate the need to balance volunteer safety with public accessibility.

"From Badger Trust’s perspective as a national charity, we must ensure that when we signpost the public to local help, we are doing so within a framework that provides clarity,

accountability, and agreed welfare standards. That consistency protects badgers, volunteers, and members of the public, and is a core part of our duty of care.

"As I mentioned previously, when searching online for a Bristol badger group, nothing identifiable appears in Google or other public searches. As a result, people are very likely unaware that your group exists. In the past week alone, I have had over 20 people contact me saying they want to be involved with a Bristol badger group because, after trying to find one themselves, they believed none existed, which was also my understanding based on the searches I carried out. Ultimately, we are trying to ensure that local people and badgers have the support they need, and that there is a clear and accessible route for the public to get help or become involved.

"I also need to understand how your group currently operates. For example:

Does the group hold scheduled meetings? Does it have a committee and a constitution (governing document)? Does it adhere to the national agreed rehabilitation protocol? Does it have a membership scheme so that people can formally join?

"At the moment, we do not have this information, which makes it difficult for us to inform the public about your group or to consider how we might support or collaborate with you. I should also clarify that Badger Trust is a small team of only seven employees (some part-time), so sadly we cannot personally investigate every planning application, report, or local issue ourselves. We are contacted not only by multiple badger groups (which is why my role was created a few years ago to act as their point of contact) but also by members of the public across England and Wales. That is why we put time into research, resources, and training for groups, to enable them to respond confidently in these situations. In terms of road traffic collisions, sett data, rescues, and other local badger issues, we signpost these to the relevant local group, whether affiliated or not — as we are here for badgers wherever they are. However, as I have said, there is currently no publicly available information about your group that allows us to understand what you do or how you operate.

"You can also speak to a whole host of badger groups who would be happy to share their experience of affiliation with Badger Trust and how much support we provide. This includes Devon, Somerset, and Gloucestershire, with whom I liaise regularly. These groups themselves have mentioned the need for a Bristol group, so I’m unsure where the confusion arises in this instance.

"Badger Trust is also a campaigning charity. We work both behind the scenes and publicly to represent badgers across England and Wales, influencing government policy, collaborating with other NGOs, engaging with researchers, and driving initiatives to improve badger welfare. This work complements the efforts of local groups, helping to create a safer and better-protected environment for badgers nationwide.

"I think there may also be some misunderstanding about what Badger Trust affiliation represents. The annual affiliation fee is not simply about listing contact details on a website. It supports a collaborative network in which groups receive substantial practical support. This includes bespoke online and in-person training delivered by specialists from across the country on badger ecology, rescue and rehabilitation, planning issues, and running effective volunteer groups. We provide written resources and guidance, one-to-one support tailored to each group’s needs (for example, volunteer recruitment, social media, training, or rescue resources), access to grant funding, and connection to a strong national network of groups who share knowledge and collaborate for the benefit of badgers. It is designed to be a partnership model, not a top-down structure.

"I sense that you may hold a negative view of Badger Trust, and possibly of my involvement in this situation, which I am sorry for. I want to be clear that there is no personal agenda here. Our sole aim is to help badgers and to ensure the public are informed about them and motivated to support their conservation. Badger groups across the country face many of the same challenges, whether related to running a sustainable volunteer organisation or responding to the pressures badgers face locally. I firmly believe we are stronger when we work together, even while groups remain independent, because collaboration allows us to share learning, pool expertise, and improve outcomes for badgers overall. There is a huge amount of knowledge and experience within the national network, and cooperation helps ensure that best practice spreads for the benefit of badgers everywhere. I was also sad to see comments on your blog that could be interpreted as critical of Badger Trust before we had the chance to speak directly. I feel it would have been more constructive to contact us first to clarify the situation, as there seems to be some misunderstanding about our intentions. Our aim has always been to support badgers and local groups, and open communication is the best way to resolve any concerns.

"Our intention in exploring options for Bristol is not to question your experience or to displace the work you are doing. As I said, whilst you may have had some contact with a previous member of staff, there is no information available about an actual operating badger group in Bristol anywhere. It is simply about ensuring there is sufficient visible capacity, resilience, and coordination to meet the growing demand for badger support in the area. Part of my role is to look at long-term sustainability and succession in local badger work across the country. Even where highly experienced individuals are active, a formal group structure can help provide continuity and shared responsibility over time.

"I would still welcome the opportunity to have a constructive conversation about whether there is scope for coexistence or collaboration that ultimately benefits badgers, whether through affiliation, complementary roles, or agreed approaches to public signposting and rescue coordination. Maybe that means we don’t start a new group but instead signpost people to you, but we would need to know some of the information I’ve asked about in this email above to do that. Maintaining open communication is important so that, even if we operate differently, we minimise confusion and gaps in support for the public and for badgers.

"If you are willing, I would be glad to arrange a call at a convenient time to discuss a way forward. Kind regards, Sally Jones Groups Manager

My response is simple:

Hello.

We have no trouble with people in the City and County finding Bristol Badger Group. We appear on BING/MSN and we also use other social media but the easiest way people find us is via Face Book or via our rescue phone number.

I find it offensive that you appear to be wanting to belittle over 30 years work in the area and simply dismiss this as "Not Badger trust". If the Badger Trust had assisted or helped in any way over the last 30+ years rather than just saying "this is what the law says" it would have been nice. We DO NOT commercialise wildlife conservation/rescue -the animals whether foxes or badgers or otters are what is important. Pay to be part of Badger Trust is not going to happen.

It is quite clear that Badger Trust has no intention to cooperate and has proven this over the last years when Bristol Badger Group stopped the destruction and development of three historic badger territories by local authorities and developers; Badger Trust was asked about help for the legal fight but offered and did nothing. In fact I have been in communication with three people in the Bristol area who asked Badger Trust for help re setts in danger and not one of them heard a thing back and the only reason I learnt of this was because they complained that they had paid for membership to get help. They thought that Bristol Badger Group was Badger Trust. BT has all of the contact details as requested by BT in 2016, 2018, 2019 and so on. Why was your organisation not able to put those people in touch with myself? Because we are not Badger Trust?

Commercialisation of wildlife conservation and rescue is abhorrent. Badger Trust has no idea what is happening on a local level or the local conservation and protection we have been fighting for. If BT I serious about getting badgers in this area protection and help when needed then Bristol Badger Group will help.

T. Hooper Bristol Badger Group f 1994"

End Notes

I was up until 0330 hours working on local wildlife matters and have been working on these again from 0800 hours. This is not a restricted times hobby. I do not have to ask members about taking immediate action to save wildlife or go full out and stop development of badger setts. People interested in badgers are free to ask BUT we never disclose badger sett locations as there is still a very strong badger baiting community out there as well as others interested in killing for profit.

Badger Trust wants to KNOW all the internal group workings and much much just so I can pay to be on their badger group map. Will they financially support Bristol Badger Group? No. And I reiterate that the old Avon Badger Group went defunct circa 1992 -Badger trust would not get involved in Bristol badgers back then -I had a number of phone conversations back then and in 32 years Badger Trust has NEVER lifted a finger helping or saving badgers in Bristol -that has been done by Bristol Badger Group.

Even after explaining that BBG has existed since 1994 the Badger trust is insisting that THEY are going to set up a Bristol Badger group. Using "big brother" tactics to make smaller (non profit) group cow-tow to their rules is never going to work.

Just type in Bristol Badger Group and see what happens.

A FEW NOTES

 The fact that I am literally being told by some people to just give up my work or "carry on quietly" is very insulting and shows how backward the UK is for wildlife. There was no one dealing with badger calls in the City in 1992-1993 because the old Avon Badger Group had folded and the RSPCA were not responding. 

I started setting things up and the Bristol Badger Group was formed in 1994 (officially). It has taken 32 years to build up trust with people who have regular badger visitors and to list and map out where there is badger activity and setts. We even have a qualified wildlife rescuer who can handle badgers if required.  

People in the City and County are generally of the "Who gives a crap" but there are people who do care for and keep badgers safe. I had to earn their trust and here is the problem: the only person from the old Avon group is getting on in years and flatly refuses to forward information ("I will proudly take it to my grave")  that will make it possible for us to protect setts,

That written, in the last five years alone I have had to advise as well as fight to stop established badger territories within the City from being destroyed ('accidentally') by developers and also land being sold off without declaration of their being badgers present. That is not a cushy 9-5 job but one that goes on day in and day out and it has gotten me a lot of negative kick back and a lot from the City Council.

A new group sets up in Bristol it will takes decades to get where BBG is today. To show that Badger Watch knows full well of the Bristol group here is a response from them on FB in 2023 (they already had my details after asking in 2015, 2017, 2018)

17/01/2023, 09:01

"Hi Terry, thanks for your message and getting in touch. We list Badger Trust groups on our website, who are full or associate members of Badger Trust - do you think this in something you'd be interested in for your group? I can ask Sally, our groups coordinator, to drop you a line. Either way please let me know the name and any contact details for your group, so I can add it to our contact list for badger rescues. I believe Bristol has quite a significant urban population of badgers and we have had rescues for that area."
To be listed as on the Badger trust it would cost £50 per year and inclusion on its map was it. Everything else "do what you are already doing". No support or back up.  Re the "rescues for that area" -they could supply no details.
When I have asked for support in a case all I get are the same responses that they can do nothing but this is the legislation.  I was involved in wildlife law and legislation since the 1970s so I know the law full well. 
Here is the call by the Trust for a badger group in Bristol to prove this is a genuine thing.

The fact that they even use "Bristol Badger Group" is insulting.

Apparently Bristol Needs A Badger Group...so what have I been doing for over 30 years?

The Badger Trust apparently wants to set up a badger group in Bristol.

My first assumption was that someone had gotten it wrong but then someone else informed me that the Badger Trust was going to set up a Bristol group.

 

To say this is insulting does not cover it since they have been absolutely no help with badger issues in the area since I set up the Bristol Badger Group. All of the local fighting I've had to do to prevent developers and Bristol City Council destroying badger setts/territories I have had to do alone since all the help I got from the Trust was citing what the law says which I bloody well know. All of the hostile kick-back from stopping the developments I have had to take the brunt off. 

Regular visitors will know from past posts what has been going on –I record all issues here on the blog as well as on the Face Book Bristol Foxes and Badgers Group.

If anyone sees mention of them setting aup a Bristol group please correct the record.

 

For the record I just sent this to the trust:

”Hello.

 

“I was informed today that the Badger Trust is intending to set up a badger group in Bristol.

”I have been in communication with the trust a number of times over the years and you should be well aware that when the Avon Badger Group folded in 1993 I set up the Bristol Badger Group. We have been monitoring badger setts, rescuing badgers as well as recording badger deaths in the City and County of Bristol. I have also prevented development on badger sett areas -the Trust was informed on these developments and our work. I also pass on badger death reports I receive to Gloucestershire Badger group as well as the Somerset group.

”I find it rather insulting that the Trust has decided that it is going to set up a group in this area that Bristol Badger Group has covered for 32 years. We have had email exchanges as well as Face Book Messenger and a couple of phone conversations. How can the Trust not be aware of Bristol Badger Group?

”Terry Hooper
Bristol Badger Group (f 1994)"

It's February and Badgers Are Already Dying

 We have just gotten into February and have reached a total of six (6) dead badgers.

Again, these are KNOWN badger deaths and are all car related. The fact that motorists hitting badgers or any other wildlife and fail to report the incident is shameful and disgusting.

Bounties on Wildlife -Why Species Went Extinct

 

 Although hunts play a major part in wildlife extinctions it is very unpopular to correct dogma. As I am not looking for popularity let me correct major dogma. 

"It was the rich and upper classes that hunted and killed for fun and wiped out a lot of wildlife" 

Well, to an extent but along with all the well to do men and women were the normal every day folk who may well have killed for 'fun' but the main intention was to earn "easy money".  In The Red Papers I noted the various bounties paid for killing  foxes, badgers, otters and so on and these were bounties paid out all over the country. In The Scottish Annals of Natural History (1895) Vol 15 page 193:

Yes, everything could be killed including house (pet) cats and before anyone thinks that would be a rarity well 6d back then bought a lot and if you didn't like next door's moggy and you saw it walking about...easy pickings. Game keepers, of course, relished shooting anything but pet cats and pet dogs were included (there is a black joke, albeit factual, that gamekeepers always had great fruit and vegetable crops because of the "fertilizer" -cats and dogs they had shot).

So do not just blame organised and casual hunting for 'fun' but remember everyday ordinary folk killed off wildlife for fun and profit, too (motorists today kill off thousands of foxes, badgers,m otters, cats, dogs, deer and other species without even giving it a second thought so not much changes).