top secret wildlife

[neil draycott]

thanks for all the replies folks your answers echo my opinions and experience as a converted hunter i would agree that many people go to extreme lengths to find secret wildlife spots 10 years ago i did the same myself but not anymore wildlife is there for us all not just for one or two of us to enjoy for a few seconds and then destroy.

[ChrisJB]

The welfare of the wildlife in question should always be paramount. Though I have to confess irritation with the dimwits who love to gloat to all and sundry about 'secret' things. Some folk clearly enjoy doing this, as though it gives them some kind of kudos that they know something that others don't. If it needs to be kept secret, just don't mention it!
I remember talking to a bloke who knew the whereabouts of the Yorkshire Eagle Owls and he thoroughly enjoyed telling people he knew about it, without giving the game away. Soon after, the female was found shot. I sometimes wonder in some cases, whether or not a bit of publicity would ensure wider vigilance from more people.
A few years ago, the Lancs Ladies Slipper Orchid was once mostly dug up during the days of secrecy. Since then (thankfully it survived), its location has been shared and lots of people now enjoy it and keep an eye on it.
I don't think it is quite so clear cut to say we must shroud everything in an impregnable veil of secrecy.

Regards. Chris

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

...I sometimes wonder in some cases, whether or not a bit of publicity would ensure wider vigilance from more people... ...I don't think it is quite so clear cut to say we must shroud everything in an impregnable veil of secrecy.

Regards. Chris

It depends entirely on which people are told. If you told 100 people about, you may have 99 nature lovers but all it will take is one less caring person to rip it out just for spite. I suppose you should just think that nature lovers will be out there anyway, discovering it for themselves out of knowledge of what it is or where it could be found.

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

I remember talking to a bloke who knew the whereabouts of the Yorkshire Eagle Owls and he thoroughly enjoyed telling people he knew about it, without giving the game away. Soon after, the female was found shot.

This wouldn't have happened if he hadn't presumably been told about it (presumably then he looked it up). If he's going to shoot birds for spite then I'm sure he wouldn't have the knowledge of what an eagle owl looks like. Then, if he was armed then I'm sure however much vigilance there was around the bird and it's territory I don't think many people would have apprehended him anyway (though a story about an armed 13yr old in woodland being stopped was circulated on here recently...)

Take care,

Jason

[wellies101]

Chris, Jason, I think you've both made good points in the last two posts. I don't think we'll ever come to a conclusion on this though. If only people who cared knew about rare wildlife and/or sites then there would be no problem, but as soon as that one person finds out who wants to cause a problem, they will.

Unfortunately I think its part of life nowadays and won't go away. Therefore, we need to do our best to limit the damage as much as possible (in my humble opinion).

[snowdrop]

I've come to the conclusion that secrecy is the best protection, using it means there is a very good chance the next generation of wildlife will also live to be a secret.

Bang go my chances of ever seeing badgers!

[Jason Green]

Wellies: A Good point well made. If only. As wildlife lovers we'd truly appreciate the chances of seeing something rare; not for a tick in a box but more the opportunity to take an appreciative look at something quite precious.

Good luck with seeing badgers, Snowdrop; I'm sure you will in time!

[thunder]

Originally Posted by snowdrop

I've come to the conclusion that secrecy is the best protection, using it means there is a very good chance the next generation of wildlife will also live to be a secret.

Bang go my chances of ever seeing badgers!

The trouble with secrecy is that while it may protect against those intending deliberate harm, it offers no protection against unintentional harm, such as development, or "tidying up".

henrya

[ChrisJB]

For me, the upshot is, I'll tell folk if I believe them trustworthy (and I have plenty of faith in my judgement). If not I won't. A person with genuine interest and intentions has just as much right to enjoy something in our great outdoors as I have.
As for our Ladies Slipper and Eagle Owl. It was when both sites were out of the public domain that both got targetted. Just perhaps, secrecy can provide a cloak for the numbheads to do their stuff beneath.
There are no hard and fast rules with this one. In my opinion, each theory has merits and flaws alike, which explains how I operate as explained in the first sentence.

Regards, Chris

[epops]

On my little local patch theres an active badger set which only a few people know about i personley have only seen the badgers a couple of times also there are one or two rareish bird that nest there but my situation for keeping mum is that only a couple of us are able to acsess the land because it is private and the farm that owns it dos'nt take kindley to people trapsing about ruining crops and leaving gates open etc part of the land is also managed for game shooting which in itself is a mini wildlife haven its a shame that we cannot take a few more people onto the land to show them just what is there but we respect the farm managers wishs to keep it to ourselves which sounds really selfish.