Lynx in Thetford forest

[Stubby]

I would suggest a bit of research on gun use and ownership in the UK if she wishes to write a balanced article. Many farmers don't own guns for example, many people who shoot will not shoot animals and indeed some are vegetarian. My main gripe is the use of a photo with a shotgun when they would hardly ever be used on deer. Try talking to BASC.

 

I would also expect Lynx to be protected so not shot, if anything vehicles would be more of a threat.

 

Back to Thetford forest, I thought Lynx mainly targeted smaller animals; rabbits, hare and birds? I could seem them hunting Muntjac but how would the Lynx fair as Munties have evolved to fight off predators.

 

Quite . In fact I am pretty sure that it is illegal to shoot deer with a shot gun today . The smallest calibre rifle would be a 254 .

[shendy]

It would be wonderful to see them. But they are being released to help with deer rabbit and hare numbers. How many are they going to kill and eat a week?? 2or3 deer. How many do the Rangers shoot a week. 10-15. And they are sold going into the food chain.

How long till they turn to easier food source of live stock.

This really needs to be thought about and not just jump straight into it.

[corylus]

Quite . In fact I am pretty sure that it is illegal to shoot deer with a shot gun today . The smallest calibre rifle would be a 254 .

 

 

The minimum legal calibre of high velocity rifle which may be used for deer stalking in England is .240 inches (Deer Act 1963). The exception being Chinese water deer and muntjac which is .220

 

A shotgun may be used as a method of euthanising injured deer.

[mickdundee]

I would suggest a bit of research on gun use and ownership in the UK if she wishes to write a balanced article. Many farmers don't own guns for example, many people who shoot will not shoot animals and indeed some are vegetarian. My main gripe is the use of a photo with a shotgun when they would hardly ever be used on deer. Try talking to BASC.

 

I would also expect Lynx to be protected so not shot, if anything vehicles would be more of a threat.

 

Back to Thetford forest, I thought Lynx mainly targeted smaller animals; rabbits, hare and birds? I could seem them hunting Muntjac but how would the Lynx fair as Munties have evolved to fight off predators.

 

I think some are focussing on the wrong points here. Its irrelevent whether ALL farmers own guns or that non farmers can own guns. The point is if the farmers aren't the ones pulling the trigger, they are the ones who decides who shoots what on their land. And if they're not behind this re-introduction it will fail. But it appears no one is asking landowners their views

[corylus]

I think some are focussing on the wrong points here. Its irrelevent whether ALL farmers own guns or that non farmers can own guns. The point is if the farmers aren't the ones pulling the trigger, they are the ones who decides who shoots what on their land. And if they're not behind this re-introduction it will fail. But it appears no one is asking landowners their views

 

 

Before any animal is reintroduced there is a lengthy consultation process with all stakeholders, with a huge amount of red tape to deal with.

[woody paul]

If the Lynx have had human contact they will be imprinted and so will not survive well. This has been demonstrated in many 'releases'.

 

Exactly, they will go for easy opposition pened livestock or foul and bust bin raids.

[corylus]

The Lynx they are releasing have had human contact so will not be afraided.

Also shepherds do not watch there flocks by night now.

 

 

Could you please enlighten us as to how you know they are releasing Lynx (as opposed to suggesting a reintroduction) and the details of how they have had human contact?

 

You appear to know more on this than the Lynx Trust UK who only opened this to public consultation on Sunday?

 

http://www.lynxuk.org

Edited March 10, 2015 by corylus

[Luckyeleven]

The minimum legal calibre of high velocity rifle which may be used for deer stalking in England is .240 inches (Deer Act 1963). The exception being Chinese water deer and muntjac which is .220

 

A shotgun may be used as a method of euthanising injured deer.

 

When did it change from being legal to use a shotgun with a solid slug on muntjac?

[Stubby]

Could you please enlighten us as to how you know they are releasing Lynx (as opposed to suggesting a reintroduction) and the details of how they have had human contact?

 

You appear to know more on this than the Lynx Trust UK who only opened this to public consultation on Sunday?

 

Lynx UK Trust, a conservation charity reintroducing Eurasian lynx to the British Isles

 

[10 Bears]

Exactly, they will go for easy opposition pened livestock or foul and bust bin raids [sic].

 

Not likely. Apex predators only change their main method of getting food when there is a shortage of prey, i.e. they wont change from hunting to scavenging when there is a food abundance as you suggest there is anyway.

 

There are some comments here that appear a little reactionary and not based on any review of facts in my opinion, so in order to understand the habits of the Lynx, I read this: Eurasian lynx description, behaviour, diet, life cycle, habitat, threats, distribution, where the information clearly states that the animals habits are to hunt in dense forests or rocky outcrops, remain almost entirely hidden or secretive and only very rarely to take livestock.

 

This Norwegian research Fear of the Unknown has looked at the affects of peoples perceptions on the Lynx, which to paraphrase suggests that although in European woods there are also bears and wolves, a lot of people fear the Lynx as the main threat to humans and animals - despite no-one in the study being able to confirm they know of someone who was attacked by a Lynx. It is a consequence of lack of knowledge and repeated myths, concluding with a comment, that "there is thus a need for a large-scale outreach programme focused primarily on hunters but also for other rural residents, such as gamekeepers, foresters, livestock breeders and shepherds" - in other words a BIG consultation process.

 

I also found this article about Why the Eurasian Lynx Kills Sheep - it is a student review of published works, not independent research, but it will do for a reference for now. In short, the published works on the subject suggest that sheep density in a given area is not the main cause of sheep attacks, i.e. that just because the sheep are there it doesn't mean they will be hunted by choice. Instead the main factor is the Roe Deer population numbers in the Lynx hunting area have to be sustainable for the Lynx population and when they are not, then there may be sheep losses (this also supports my earlier comments about Apex predators not switching to scavenging unless they don't have enough prey).

 

So after this briefest of research, I believe that this information combines to suggest that the released Lynx:

 

- Will not be a threat to humans

- Will be able to control an environmentally damaging pest (Deer)

- Will lead to more positive and wider scale conservation efforts

- Will require an ongoing consultation and information exchange

- Will only have a minuscule effect on livestock population (assuming correct conservation practices are undertaken for prey levels in the hunting area of the Lynx eg reduced Roe stalking)

 

So, my opinion based on the research is that to release Lynx back in to the wild within a defined set of parameters, will be a wholly positive undertaking and will potentially offer new environmental management opportunities. As such I support the re-wilding of Lynx.