What sort of thinking is this?

[John]

I came across this article in the Shooting Times in another forum. It has listed some of our most endangered birds that they class as pests to their industry of shooting.

Thankfully they have been condemned by all the wildlife bodies but even if they retract this story (which by the way I think they have now after pressure by the RSPB) I think that the damage has already been done.

I just hope that the likes of the magnificent Golden Eagle, Hen Harrier etc do not suffer because of this article.

Have a read and put your comments to this thread.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspap...026939,00.html

John

[Jonny]

Animals that rely on game to survive are being blacklisted by people who only want to shoot the game anyway. I think these people should be at the top of there own list. I have nothing against these people, but to openly say things against the wildlife that depend on their sport species for survival makes me cross.
Why are badgers on their list anyway, what harm do they do................Jon (cross now)

[wildone]

Come to that I thought Red Kite were scavengers. Surely they used to keep the streets of London and other big cities clean when there were open sewers. Maybe we have become too clean ourselves which leaves little for scavengers to find so that they have to resort to killing.

[Helen]

Red Kites are scavengers, but like most raptors, are opportunistic.

If an injured or juvenile bird/mammal is a sitting target, the kite will take it.

Kites can not take large prey, they have no strength in their talons.

[nightshade]

Wow they should lose their shotgun certificates for that one fancy shooting themselves in the foot like that they are not safe to be out
They obviously have not noticed that the vast majority of people are pro- wildlife!

[StuartDH]

It's a great shame as I know quite a few people who shoot and they're far more responsible and would also be appalled by the list. They're also well aware that there are a minority who would consider this list from a respected publisher as a green light to start hunting these species.

[John]

Originally Posted by StuartDH

It's a great shame as I know quite a few people who shoot and they're far more responsible and would also be appalled by the list. They're also well aware that there are a minority who would consider this list from a respected publisher as a green light to start hunting these species.

Spot on and that is the fear of what might happen. As I said earlier the retraction will do no good if those that are hell bent on killing anything that they think can cause problems to their sport have already seen this list.

Anyway, it beggars belief on who came up with this list and supplied it to the paper. The paper didn't make up this list so it sure as heck is still in existence amongst those that would use it as a licence to kill.

John

[pheonix]

not that i agree with them but to be fair that is their way of making a living, they just shouldnt provide such an easy meal that most animals couldnt resist...

[Kayleigh]

The shooting times should have edited the list out and never sent it to press. The animal rights extremists just love this kind of thing. The shooting and fishing industrys should leave the wildlife alone or they will end up being banned like hunting. The shooting fraternity has now been damaged if their lot are going round printing this kind of rubbish on thier heads be it.

[Imaginos]

To be fair to the shooting 'industry' they've had these views for a long time-since before protection legislation came in for a lot of these creatures-I remember reading a Shooting Times from the early '80's that was outlining ways to trap & destroy Hen Harriers & another whole issue that was devoted to railing against bird protection laws. It must be remembered that by definition hunters like killing things, if it's something that's been bred for the purpose then so be it, but, as the Vice President of the USA proved, once the bloodlust decends nothing is safe.
The one comment that worries me greatly (other than the general undercurrent of worry & disgust usually generated in me by the ST) is this: "Goshawks, at No 17, cause “consternation among keepers. Particularly lethal to black grouse, and indeed any gamebird, it can make a severe dent on stock numbers. Eats red squirrels, too.”" Does this mean that the severely endangered black grouse is still available for hunting?
Let's face it the Shooting Times is a reactionary body that's only published this for some publicity & to increase its sales among the morally corrupt who are attracted by the idea of killing rare things. I'd suggest boycotting it, but I doubt there's many on this site that would consider buying it in the first place.