Foxes must be controlled

Sir, - I refer to the letter from James Davie of Dundee concerning his abhorrence of field

sports (September 1) that reads as more of a rant against “posh boys”, than a reasoned argument for wildlife conservation.

He omits to mention a number of things.

Firstly, the birds that are shot are not thrown away. They are consumed by diners in hotels and restaurants which contribute to the tourism industry on which the Scottish Government relies on.

What is the difference between eating birds that are shot and the cattle, lambs and pigs that are similarly despatched in abattoirs?

In supporting Jim Crumley’s position which seems to be to turn Scotland into a ramblers’ paradise, there was no mention of the fact that the landscapes of Scotland, so admired by tourists and ramblers, are sustained by the landowners of whom Mr Davie is so critical.

The maintenance of landscape is expensive, so if we ban field sports and the landowners suffer drops in income, who is going to oversee and pay for the landscapes we enjoy?

It will not be the Scottish Government, already running a £15 billion deficit to fund public services.

On the fox-hunting issue, this is a further emotive outburst that ignores the fact that foxes have to be controlled, otherwise their predation of ground-nesting birds, domestic poultry and new-born lambs will grow apace. Derek Farmer. Knightsward Farm, Anstruther.