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What we hate is those bloody townies telling us what to do.
Quorn Hunt follower.
Wild Thoughts
Welcome to the Tooth & Claw web-log. This is where we will keep you up to speed with what's going on - both on a Tooth & Claw front but also any events,developments and news from the predator world. If you have any comments, suggestions or news snippets, we'd love to hear from you so please do get in touch.
30/04/2008: Follow Alma!
byPeter Cairns
The intriguing story of Alma the Scottish golden eagle, last year fitted with a satellite transmitter, can be followed at: http://www.roydennis.org/golden%20eagle.htm28/04/2008: Trial to trap Sparrowhawks postponed
byMark Hamblin
I've just been sent a link to an article regarding the postponement of a trial to trap (live) sparrowhawks at a selected number of pigeon lofts in Scotland, which you'll be interested in reading, I'm sure!The trial given the go-ahead by Mike Russell, the Environment Minister for the Scottish Executive, was due to take place this spring, and involved trapping and translocating sparrowhawks at 15 pigeon-owner's homes in Scotland to see if such measures would reduce predation.
What do you think? Is this trial a good idea or is it an indication of our lack of tolerance towards other species? Have your say on the Forum.
Read the full story from The Sunday Herald by Rob Edwards
http://www.robedwards.com/2008/03/disputed-hawk-t.html
24/04/2008: New Sea Eagle hide on Mull
byMark Hamblin
A new state of the art viewing hide has recently been opened by Forestry Commission Scotland. The hide overlooks Loch Frisa where a pair of sea eagles have been nesting. The hide boasts two TV screens featuring live footage of the birds which is beamed into the hide from CCTV cameras placed close to the nest.Trips to the hide are taking place until 25 July and booking is essential.
Tickets cost £2 for a child, £4 for adults and £10 for a family. To book, contact 01688 302038.
For more information visit www.forestry.gov.uk/mullseaeagles
22/04/2008: Wildcat conference
byPeter Cairns
Aviemore was the setting for an inaugural conference about the future of the Scottish wildcat last week. For me the most pleasing aspect of the day was the good-natured banter and underlying cooperation of different land use representatives - exactly how it should be.Stewart Blair, a regular and valued T&C contributor, presented his thoughts and spoke about 'too many' wildcats being a future sign that the restoration programme had been successful. The definition of 'too many' of anything has long fascinated me - what does it mean? I always use the contribution from Zanete Andersone-Lilley, a Latvian carnivore researcher to answer this: "More than we can tolerate"!
Thanks to all that attended and apologies to Chris R. - I was a bit hassled with the technical difficulties!
Pete
11/04/2008: Osprey lays first egg at Loch of the Lowes
byMark Hamblin
Good news! The female osprey at Loch of the Lowes SWT reserve has just laid her first egg! This is her 50th egg (normally they only lay 30 eggs). Here is the link to the webcam…..http://www.thewebbroadcastingcorporation.com/swt/swt.php
11/04/2008: Bruno immortalised!
byPeter Cairns
 | Many of you will no doubt remember Bruno the Bear who wandered through Germany in 2006. Bruno got himself shot but the backlash of this occupied the news headlines even at a time when Germany was hosting the World Cup Finals. This is where Bruno is now! |
21/03/2008: Thanks to Swavesey!
byPeter Cairns
Just a quick note to thank the members of Swavesey Camera Club for their warm and enthusiastic response to my AV show recently. It was great to have so many questions about predator issues raised - and not one mention of camera lenses of workflow techniques - very refreshing! Sorry to Malcom for getting my campervan stuck on his lawn!20/02/2008: 400 and counting...
byPeter Cairns
The Tooth & Claw wildcat awareness campaign, 400 and counting, had it's first public airing yesterday. Scottish Natural Heritage launched the wildcat public survey which aims to establish an up-to-date picture on wildcat distribution across Scotland. The survey was launched by Scottish Environment Minister Michael Russell and I did a quick presentation about the need to engage a mainstream public to bring the 'forgotten cat' back into public consciousness. More news on the campaign to follow shortly...15/02/2008: Tooth & Claw Book reviews
byMark Hamblin
We have been delighted by the many favourable comments and emails that have been coming in since the launch of the Tooth & Claw book just before Christmas. Reviews are now also starting to appear in the press and I was sent one today from Highland News (02/02/2008).To quote from the review:
This is a large book by any standards and not only because it is larger than A4 in format but also because of the subject it tackles. The authors are to be congratulated on trying to look at all the (predator-prey) scenarios and the consultations with so many people was a master move.
It is a book that everyone who has the remotest interest in wildlife and the countryside should read and digest at great length. It would be interesting to see how people's thoughts are changed by such reading.
13/02/2008: Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?
byPeter Cairns
Scottish Wildlife Trust staged an innovative event in Glasgow on Monday night - a debate with the title above. I was one of three speakers who made presentations on the various dimensions to consider in restoring large predators to Scotland. The presentations were followed by a Question Time style Q&A session. This - as you might expect - was lively and varied in its content and underlined that although such discussions bring the issues into the public consciousness, varied viewpoints prevail - and probably always will. Ken Rundle did a quick straw poll at the end of the evening and I did a very quick head count. In favour of beaver reintroduction - 90%; lynx reintroduction - 75%; wolf reintroduction - 50%; bear reintroduction - 15%.
Thanks for the many e-mails I've had since - again, varied in their opinions but many recognising that whatever their viewpoint, nobody is entitled to have it all their own way!
Pete
30/01/2008: German wolf killed on road.
byMark Hamblin
http://www.nabu.de/m01/m01_03/07713.html
30/01/2008: UKNP talk
byPeter Cairns
Just returned from a trip south photographing red kites via the Solway Coast to deliver a talk to the UK Nature Photographers Network. Just to say, thanks to Tom, Nick and Brian for organising the event - hope there will be many more to follow!