"Druss" wrote in message
...
"Michael Saunby" wrote in message
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"green earth" wrote in message
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Bob Hobden wrote:



Ah! But if they did react what method would they then use to kill
said
fox/foxes and would it be guaranteed to be always more humane than
hunting
with dogs?


It could hardly be any less humane could it?


Ms Earth,

Are you saying that in your personal experience use of snares, shotguns,
and poisons are always more humane?

Of course mounted hunts account for only a small number of foxes killed
each year, far more are killed in cities by pest controllers. Are you a
pest controller, can you explain why your methods are so much more
humane
than those used in the countryside?

Michael Saunby



It's curious how people confuse so easily "humane" with tradition, killing
a
fox using a pack of dogs is the same as the method employed in the
mediaeval
days to kill someone you really didn't like. I don't think we execute many
people using packs of dogs these days but then again maybe that has
nothing
to do with humanity.

Basically there are a few obvious facts;
1) We don't hunt bears in the country anymore
2) We don't hunt wild boar in the country anymore
3) We don't allow people to follow badger baiting, apparently it's
inhumane
to kill a badger with a pack of dogs
4) We don't allow otter hunting with dogs anymore
5) In the wild and without mans influence foxes would have no real
predators, nothing hunts foxes to eat. They were controlled simply by
available land and food resources much like every other living thing,
except
man. This seemed to work for several millions of years.
6) If you are going to introduce easy prey for a predator then you have to
take action to protect that prey. People in India live in the shadow of
Tigers, and take precautions against being eaten. If you keep chickens and
a
fox kills them all it is because YOU made a mistake, not because the wily
old fox is evil, it's a wild animal get over it.
7) Fox hunting does little or nothing to control fox populations and can
thus only be justified because the people taking part enjoy it. That is
pretty much the definition of a "cruel sport", it's pain for pains sake.
If
they simply enjoyed the day out and the ride, then drag hunting is a
perfectly viable alternative.
8) On another seperate note, badgers do not infect cattle with TB, TB is a
disease contracted and spread by keeping too many animals/people in close
proximity in poor air circulation conditions. So farmers cram all their
cattle into tiny little sheds for the whole winter period and like to
blame
badgers when their cattle get diseased.
9) Foxes main food source is actually earthworms, and since this is
uk.rec.gardening, and since earthworms are a major contributor to the
success of gardening I am amazed that nobody has not tried to justify
killing all foxes because they stop their carrots growing quite so well.

People have long sort to control nature, but natures best control is
itself,
people can and indeed used to learn to live alongside nature, we seem
intent
on controlling it and forcing it into our ideal. We want to kill anything
that might harm our ability to make money from the countryside, and yet we
all profess to want a countryside which is beautiful. I truly believe that
anyone who has ever jumped over a fence only to land alongside a fox, and
have it turn to look at you and then walk away would not find the sight
amazing and wonderful.

Ah well rant over, and yes I have no doubt whatsoever that some of you
will
respond, "a fox killed my chickens", "foxes are evil", "foxes carry
mange",
"hunting one dog with a pack of other dogs is natural", and it's a shame,
since the vast majority of people in this country would consider football
more important than keeping our countryside healthy, so when a debate on
hunting turns up, and a football match is on the other channel we can be
sure which most of you will be watching.

Duncan



Another point I heard the other day for consideration was that one major
influence in foxes raiding habits in the 20th century was the introduction
of miximitosis which killed a lot of the easily available food stock.