Our campaigns
Back off badgers
The Government is considering killing badgers to control the disease in cattle, bovine tb. We need your help to stop this.
-
Do you have a wildlife dilemma you'd like us to answer in our next podcast? by RSPCA
Wildlife podcast 10:14 a.m. | Tue 5 May 2009
Comments
VeggieLibby April 7, 2010 at 1:21 p.m.
Live animal transport for the meat industry!
Please ban it! Im down on my hands and knees!!!
Link to this comment
animalrspca February 10, 2010 at 1:48 p.m.
Why do inoccent pets get abandoned and what can be done to prevent this from happening?
Link to this comment
tattooedgirlie September 20, 2009 at 11:53 p.m.
PETA NEEDS YOU!!
Come participate in a fun, one-of-a-kind demonstration on Saturday, 3 October, to urge Selfridges to stop selling foie gras
To create foie gras - French for "fatty
liver" - up to 2 kgs of a mixture of grain, maize and fat is pumped into
the stomachs of ducks and geese through a pipe two or three times a day for
three weeks. As the birds' livers become diseased and expand to up to 10 times
their normal size, the animals become sick, and many are unable to move. The
pipes sometimes puncture the birds' throats, which may cause them to bleed to
death.
Foie gras production is banned in the UK and more
than a dozen other countries. More than 60 per cent of Britons believe that foie
gras sales should also be banned. Not one supermarket will sell foie gras in
the UK. Foie gras has also been pulled from the shelves of House of Fraser,
Prince Charles has banned it from Royal menus and the Pope has denounced it as
cruel.
We'd like to make this demonstration as
large and noticeable as possible. Won't you please join?
The demonstration will take place outside Selfridges at 400 Oxford Street at 11 am and last for 30 minutes. However, we will meet in a location close to (but not in front of) Selfridges at 9:45 am sharp to talk through the event.
Our goal is to get 100 compassionate people out for this eye-catching demonstration. Each participant will be given a duck mask to represent the ducks and geese who are used to make the fois gras sold at Selfridges. Some people will also hold signs, while others will distribute leaflets.
It's important that you please RSVP writing to RoseG@peta.org.uk with "Birdie" in the subject line of your e-mail. The meeting location, dress code, lyrics of the chant, instructions on the dance and other fun details will be sent (to people who RSVP) closer to the date of the demonstration.
Link to this comment
robertson July 23, 2009 at 1:03 p.m.
Being partially immobilised and although not a nature freak, I began to enjoy the company of wild birds and squirrels which we encouraged into the garden with feeders and plenty of foliage plus bushes with berries etc. Despite the grey squirrels "reputation" they co-existed with the birds with no problem. Then a large ginger cat started to use our garden as a toilet and recreation zone, after three weeks of removing dead birds this problem dissapeared together with all the wildlife. They never returned, are we all too afraid to tell it as it is? Does the RSPCA still condone the cull of greys and the irresponsibility of cat owners.
Link to this comment
Hannah67 May 23, 2009 at 9:39 a.m.
To veganxchick – Agreed, I’d love to have loads of land and rescue as many animals as I can look after.
Link to this comment
VeganxChick May 21, 2009 at 8:49 p.m.
On day I would love to have enough money to buy a piece of land that I am able to rescue chickens, lambs, cows etc from being sent to abotoirs. I would love these animals as much as I do my cats and guinea-pigs.
I also think it is very unfair that badgers living in Wales were being killed! When will so called people in power realise that animals are not the problem but people are!
Link to this comment
Hannah67 May 18, 2009 at 5:19 p.m.
To Melanie25 - My family has owned chickens (to keep as pets and for eggs) for a while now, and we live in a rural area with plenty of foxes. When we first decided to get chickens, we decided that the best way to start would be to create a large run where it would be practically impossible for foxes to enter. We created a 6 foot high fence - we were pretty sure that a fox wouldn't be able to climb this high, but for extra safety measures we put some barbed wires all the way around at the top. The fencing also goes deep into the ground, by about 3 or 4 feet to stop foxes from trying to dig to get into the run. To this day (about 15 years later), we haven't had any chicken casualties or fatalities. So I think that creating a run with a good fence is the best way (I haven't needed to try any other ways - so I am just assuming this!). I understand though that making a 6 or so foot high fence may not be practical for everyone.
Link to this comment
londiniumgaia May 18, 2009 at 5:19 p.m.
I like my fellow human beings as I do my fellow creatures in my view we are part of the animal world and no less nor more important than any other animal
if and when we learn to respect our fellow humans then the next step should be to respect our other fellow creatures
who says I am not a hoddie myself?
my two dogs wear hoodies in winter and top dog coats in spring
plant trees galore people make sure its native preferably and learn about the root system so as not to have to put it down in the future and the birdies will have a better chance ....
I think that Sue idea of the bell is great and a curfew for top cat and his friends during breeding season....
Link to this comment
Sue May 18, 2009 at 12:25 p.m.
Mags - couldn't agree more. But you shouldn't have said anything about hoodies - Londiniumgaia will be trying to ban them next!
Link to this comment
Sue May 18, 2009 at 12:22 p.m.
Melanie - that's awful, but sadly its what they do. 20 chickens this year is a high head count. Do you have a dog which might deter the fox during the day? Well possibly not as you would have thought of this yourself! What about one of these high pitched whistle things? Still, if the fox strikes when you are out, it doesn't help much does it? There has to be something on the market you could get. Is there a smell which deters them, something you could put down around your chicken house? I am sure that somebody reading this thread with some experience of this problem will be able to suggest something. Have you tried asking the RSPCA? I really hope you find a solution soon so that you can save your last hen and maybe re-stock.
Link to this comment
MELANIE25 May 18, 2009 at 10:17 a.m.
I have a moajor problem with a very naughty forx who comes into my garden in the day, stands and looks at me when I try to shoo him away and as soon as I go out, kills my chickens. He's had 20 so far this year including my cockerel. I live in a very rural area and so expect foxes and to lose the odd chicken but that's at night and if I forget to put them away before dark. At the momoment I have to keep my lone cluck caged in which I hate and so does she as I let them roam all over my garden. I don't want to involve the local hunt as that is repellant to me and I don't want it to be shot or poisened etc, I just want the naughty boy to be scared enough to stop coming around during the day!
Link to this comment
Mags53 May 17, 2009 at 10:26 p.m.
Londiniumgaia - what is an animal hater like you doing posting to this site? Rotties and staffies all the same eh? Next you'll be telling us that all children wearing hoodies mug old ladies!! I believe that one of the reasons for the decline in birds is that during their migration across some countries huge numbers are shot for food (France being bad). As to natural habitat, I live in a rural area, lots of habitat, lots of birds - maybe they, like me, prefer to live the rural life.
Link to this comment
Hannah67 May 16, 2009 at 10:18 a.m.
londiumgaia - perhaps the majority of cats go indoors at night. Well mine do anyway. I think the main reason for a decline in wild birds is constant destruction of habitat caused by new buildings, villages, roads etc.
Link to this comment
londiniumgaia May 15, 2009 at 6:48 p.m.
cat curfew at night during breeding season for the birdies as cats are nocturnal anyway
if you can come up with something better feel free to let me know...
Link to this comment
Hannah67 May 15, 2009 at 5:22 p.m.
Londiniumgaia - And this you say is the reason for the decline of wild birds? I thought you said we needed a cat curfew?! Why don't you come up with something sensible...
Link to this comment
londiniumgaia May 14, 2009 at 7:04 p.m.
the have pulled the bark from top to bottom
peeled the tree ....
Link to this comment
Hannah67 May 14, 2009 at 5:35 p.m.
londiniumgaia - staffies and rotties rubbing bark of the trees, resulting in a decline of wild birds?! How old are you? - Whatever next!
Link to this comment
londiniumgaia May 14, 2009 at 4:59 p.m.
Hello Petals
its due to 3 factors one being the cat which is the only one we are able to control
we have less trees more urban horrid brutalizing spaces without or with very litlle green in them or around them .... that should count for something so get busy planting trees if you can or wish to please
the other 2 are birds do not recall which types for now
its too true that staffies and rotties have been known and seen being exersiced damaging the bark of trees ect
ahhhhhhh such sweet litlle and not so litlle monsters .....
oh yes its the onwers fault ...sorry ...those strong agressive idiotic ugly dogs are not at all dangerous noooooooo .... the NSPCC says its the dogs and calling them young adults thugs is not nice so they will prosecute the RSPCA for blaming them as they were badly brought up and do not know any better and did not create those breeds in the first place they are much more inocent than those dogs
where will all of it end?
ahhhhhhhhhhh
Link to this comment
Sue May 14, 2009 at 12:15 p.m.
Hannah - I agree. I did wonder if perhaps there might be more cats around now than before, but this hardly seems likely because neutering is now a much more widespread practice than it used to be. Could climate change be a factor? You often hear about birds from overseas which have been discovered on our shores for the first time because of changes in climate, and there may be birds which we see less of for the same reason. Cats are not the only predators birds have, and with overdevelopment of green belt areas, it does seem that the birds habitat is being gradually eroded. Alternatively, it could at the end of the day just be about natural evolution. Cats do undoubtedly do their bit to suppress the bird population, but as you say, they always have, so nothing has changed to account for any decline.
Link to this comment
Hannah67 May 13, 2009 at 7:47 p.m.
Londiniumgaia – I have heard somewhere that the wild bird population is declining. I’m not sure why that is, but it is only natural for cats to catch birds. I assume that cats have always done this, so I can’t see that the bird decline has anything to do with cats. Your last post made me chuckle. Staffies and owners controlling a cat curfew? Hmm...
If I ever notice once of my cats stalking a bird, I will always try and shoe the cat away, and like Sue’s cats, mine have collars with bells too. Perhaps the RSPCA will provide reasons of the wild bird decline in one of their podcasts (whatever a podcast is anyway!)
Link to this comment
Sue May 13, 2009 at 3:48 p.m.
Londiniumgaia - sorry you've been ill. I thought the cat had got your tongue!! Your post made me laugh - a curfew for cats!! Come on? Didn't you expect someone to say something? If it hadn't been me, it would have been someone else. At least you admit it was daft! Yes, you are right that the wild bird population appears to be dwindling and I hate that my cats sometimes come home with a bird in their mouths. But a cat is not like a dog, you don't have the same control. Some people say there is no such thing as a cat owner. I would probably disagree with that, but whatever you or I think, you can't regulate a cat's behaviour the way you can regulate a dog. And hunting is NORMAL for them. It isn't deviant behaviour and it has gone on since the world began. You can only minimise risk, as I do the best I can. I would add that although I have 7 cats, 2 are very elderly and are indoor cats, so only the other 5 go out on the prowl, and of them, I have only known two of them catch anything, ever. Of course, with their noisy collar bells, the birds can hear them a mile away, so I hope this helps lessen the casualties. There are other reasons for dwindling bird populations and that of other wildlife, for example, the systematic destruction of their habitat. You won't solve all the world's problems here. I wish I thought you could.
Link to this comment
londiniumgaia May 12, 2009 at 8:55 p.m.
ok Sue
who am i to argue with miss know it all?
been not that well but will soon be back
miss me not too much as i miss you all like i do a migrane!
bad and daft as my idea was IT WAS THE ONLY ONE I COULD COME UP WITH
bidrs in wild life are declining in number BIG time
nature needs a helping hand...
you can educate people till you blue in the face at times and hope for the best or take asap action before its too late
at least during the breeding season
whio is there to make sure evryone complies with the curfew?
the staffies and their owners !who else?
Link to this comment
Sue May 12, 2009 at 11:25 a.m.
Clogs - Badgers dead on the road is an issue which also concerns me, because I know that badger baiters often leave their victims on the roadside so as to be mistaken for roadkill. But probably, the increase in the numbers you see are also attributable to the breeding season, which means they would be particularly active at this time. Some local authorities put up road signs warning drivers that there may be badgers crossing the roads. I am sure the majority of drivers do not want to kill them, but I do wish that generally drivers would be more careful. I am happy to say that in over 25 years of driving I have never killed anything. I hope I never do, and if I do, it will be unavoidable. It would be good to see some general debate on the badger cull and badger baiting, but sorry, I have no idea what a Podcast is or how to use one (showing my age now)!!
Link to this comment
Sue May 12, 2009 at 11:14 a.m.
londiniumgaia - cats don't hunt, as you probably know, because they are hungry and need to eat. They hunt because it is their instinct to hunt. They cruelly taunt and play with their prey and rarely actually eat it once it is dead. I have 7 cats and love wild birds. I have lost count of the numbers I have successfully and unsuccessfully rescued from their clutches over the years. I would love a bird table in my garden so that I could have the pleasure of watching the birds, but I daren't because it would encourage the cats to go after them and make them vulnerable. A curfew for cats is daft, because not all cats belong to anyone, there are hundreds and thousands of strays, so what would you do, put up a notice? Cats can't read! The way I deal with the problem is that I put noisy bells on my cats collars. This way the birds usually know when the cat is around and this takes away the element of surprise. Another thing I do is that I keep my cats in overnight and every night, and I do not let them out until I am ready to leave for work. I found that the early morning was when the birds seemed to be most vulnerable and it was at this time that my cats most often caught them, so hopefully, by keeping them indoors as late as I can, it helps. It doesn't admittedly stop the cats coming home with baby (and adult) birds from time to time because some birds build their nests in places the cats can get to, and baby birds can't fly away. They are also at risk when they are learning to fly. But I think most cat owners like me, who care about wildlife generally do what we can. I am not sure that apart from generally educating people, it is ever going to be possible to prevent nature from taking its course, as it has for many centuries. I think if there was an easy answer, someone would have found it by now.
Link to this comment
Horse Love May 7, 2009 at 3:49 p.m.
I really like Ur idea for a podcast, I think my questions would be about the podcasts themselves though. I'm having difficulty playing it, it keeps cutting out and there doesn't seem to be any way of saving the podcast to my computer. I'd like to be able too, as then I could listen to it again & put it on my iPod. Also are U thinking of putting the podcast on iTunes to make it even more accesible to people? U could even charge a small fee for a subscription & raise more funds though not so many people would listen to it though
Link to this comment
londiniumgaia May 6, 2009 at 11:14 p.m.
mine would be that our wild life bird population is in need of a helping hand and that cats play a big part in killing the little ones during breeding season
the mention of a curfew for cats during the song/any birds breeding season would be something the RSPCA would consider?once they get to a nest cats never let go and cats do not need their prey either as they get their grub at home....
we sure need to boost the number of birds ....
Link to this comment
Clogs May 5, 2009 at 12:42 p.m.
I want to know why there are so many dead badgers on the roads at the moment - are they particularly active at this time of year?
Link to this comment
Login to start adding your voice to the blog