Conservation groups are not up to the job
Well done Mark for your September column on responses to the UK’s biodiversity dilemma (My Way Of Thinking). I have long thought, just like you, that the various nature, environmental and conservation pressure groups have been nowhere near vociferous and hard-hitting enough to do the job they are attempting to do. And as for our politicians, oh dear, what a miserably ineffective lot they have been for far too long. I only hope that your message gets repeated, again and again, in the corridors of power and wherever else the points can be made. And that at long last it might bring the ‘fruit’ we’ve all been waiting so long for.
Hally Hardie, via email
Widespread decline
In my view, Mark Carwardine’s article in the September issue was a little misleading (My Way Of Thinking). His basic premise about the decline in biodiversity is no doubt true but most of those birds mentioned are not just UK species and their decline is across their whole range, so not specifically a UK issue. The little owl is an introduced species, but would there be an issue if the 69 per cent decrease was of grey squirrels or parakeets? I doubt it, because they should not be here.
Regarding declines in biodiversity, are we actually comparing like with like? The UK has a long history of recording nature, which may not be matched in the rest of Europe. If this is the case, then are these comparisons valid? I believe that only longterm studies where the same methodology has been applied over a long period should be used to make such comparisons.
Nigel Sawyer, Surrey
I do agree that it’s incredibly difficult to share like with like when assessing national declines in biodiversity. But we do need a measure of some sort – and this is currently the best we have. At the very least, it shows trends year-on-year. Besides, there is plenty of indisputable evidence that our efforts to protect wildlife in the UK are failing miserably.
Mysterious remains
During August, I found three fox (cub?) tails and one short squirrel tail on different days at slightly different places at the bottom of the garden. On the first occasion, there were hedgehog remains nearby. Most of these finds were near predated bird remains – I suspect a neighbour’s devious thug of a cat! Dr Tony Abramson, Leeds
DAWN SCOTT FROM THE MAMMAL SOCIETY REPLIES:
Based on the animal remains found, the predator here is unlikely to be a cat. Cats are likely to take birds but not foxes or hedgehogs. As there is a collection of remains in one area, it sounds like it could be a juvenile fox that is using this place as an eating point and collecting things that it is scavenging. Tails don’t have much nutritional value so tend not to be eaten and left.
Melanistic mammals
We read with interest that black rabbits have been spotted on Dartmoor and on Islay ( Where Hares Shine Gold, November 2021). Well, they have also been resident here in a tiny hamlet in south Shropshire for over two years.
We have had grey rabbits breeding here for years, but each litter born both this year and last has consisted of a mix of the two colours. We wonder why, after living here for 22 years, that this has only become evident recently? We have no information indicating domestic rabbit ‘dumping’.
Peter and Florence Straughan, Shropshire
COLOUR ABERRATION EXPERT HEIN VAN GROUW FROM THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, TRING, REPLIES:
The black coat in these rabbits is the result of a hereditary mutation. Whether it derived from an escaped or dumped pet rabbit, or spontaneously occurred in the wild population is hard to tell. Both are equally likely. It is not particularly rare in rabbits and melanistic individuals exist in many populations. A recessive mutation can be present in a population for a while before it is finally noticed, since both parents need to be carriers of the recessive mutation before one can expect any youngsters to be born with a black coat.
To cull or not to cull
Sadly, I have to agree with Mark Carwardine regarding the eradication of hedgehogs in New Zealand (My Way Of Thinking, August 2021). Having grown up in the UK,
I sometimes met hedgehogs on my nightly walks or when badger watching. However, on a family visit to New Zealand in the late 1980s, I saw more hedgehogs than I ever spotted in England.
New Zealand is currently on a drive to rid itself of the worst introduced predators. Hedgehogs are an invasive species there, with no natural predators to control their numbers, and the native wildlife is not equipped to deal with them. Sorry, this is a time to be realistic, not sentimental.
Bob Holerness-Roddam, Tasmania, Australia
Plastics and wildlife
I’ve never really realised how dangerous our actions can be until I read the interesting and thought-provoking interview with conservation biologist Alexander Bond (Meet The Scientist, October 2021). To learn about oceanic wildlife eating our plastic waste disturbed me to my core. Then when I learnt that seabirds feed these small pieces of plastic to their tiny babies, who starve and die, I was heartbroken.
Since reading the article, I have done a lot of thinking on how I can help the environment and our wildlife.
I’ve had really good discussions with my partner and my family. I am more aware about recycling plastic and other items, and I now want to look into household cleaning and beauty products that are more environmentally friendly.
Angela Couzens, Bristol