The Farmers Mart Dec/Jan 2015 - Issue 37 | Page 15

farm news

“Most people think of game and deer,
but one of the most prolific examples of
poaching in our area is taking fish,” he
told the audience. “People from Eastern
Europe are usually behind this and it is
very difficult to deal with because they
will bring disposable BBQs to the river
bank and cook and eat the fish there and
then.”

‘Most people think of
game and deer but
one of the most prolific
examples of poaching in
our area is taking fish’
Traditional animal poaching methods
were snaring, trapping, long netting and
shooting, but some of these are dying
out now. Sheep rustling is a particular
problem in South Yorkshire, as it is in other
regions.
Wildlife crimes are many and varied, with
laws to match and can involve: common
firearms offences; lamping with dogs and/
or firearms; ferreting for rabbits; trapping,
shooting, snaring or poisoning of birds

or animals; poaching of game, deer or
fish; badger digging or baiting; organised
animal fighting, collecting wild birds
eggs; digging or picking of wild plants;
illegal international trade in wildlife; the
introduction of non-indigenous species.
Prevalent in South Yorkshire now is
poaching game birds with Harris Hawks,
which are readily available on the internet
for around £400.
Farmers are concerned about theft of
farm machinery, plant, vehicles and fuel
oil, and several of the farmers present
pointed out how they had been threatened
and intimidated with firearms when
apprehending any trespassers.
One Barnsley farmer even had his
entire bales stock set on fire and the
blaze spread to a nearby building where
hundreds of pigs were burned alive. “That
cost £90,000,” he said. “So you can
understand how some of us are reluctant
to get involved.”
PC Jameson explained some of the
powers the police have in dealing with
these under the many Acts, but also
outlined how difficult it can be to get
cases to court and get prosecutions –
sometimes because the CPS officer may
lack the necessary experience in such
crimes.

‘We really need to
overhaul wildlife
legislation’

www.yorkshireconservationandfarming.org.uk

To read more, visit www.farmers-mart.co.uk

“We really need to overhaul wildlife
legislation,” he said. “It is long overdue.”
An increasing problem is the poaching
of deer, especially red deer and roe deer,
which is because there is increasing
demand for venison,” said the second
speaker was Alastair Boston, North
of England Deer Liaison Officer at the
Deer Initiative. Alastair ran the Cumbria
Deer Project with funding support from
Cumbria Woodlands prior to taking on his
current role for The Deer Initiative. Alastair
worked for the Lake District National Park
Authority and the Forestry Commission in
forestry and deer management and there
isn’t much he doesn’t know about deer
and woodland management.
“Deer poachers are well-organised now
and will travel for hours to get what they
are after,” said Alastair, whose huge “beat”
covers the whole of the North of England

down to Nottinghamshire.
“Deer poachers are cross-breeding
American Pitbulls with Wolfhounds to
produce dogs that have the strength,
weight and speed to take deer,” he said,
and showed some examples of the
massive, terrible injuries caused by these
dogs, as well as those caused to deer
which are shot in the mouth or jaw and left
to starve to death.”
But poaching does not impact much on
deer population because they have such
good living and breeding conditions now.
He explained the importance of
managing and controlling the deer
population for the protection of woodland,
especially ancient woodland, which is a
big part of his role. He works closely with
organisations such as Natural England,
the Woodland Trust, Forestry Commission
and RSPB as well as with farmers and
landowners.
One of the serious problems with deer
is their regular involvement in road traffic
accidents. “This is a major problem with
an average of five people killed every year
and the annual cost to insurance industry
of a staggering £14m,” he said. He also
explained about how deer suffer from
some of the same diseases as cattle,
which is another concern, and how nonnative species such as Munjack which
have either been freed or have escaped
from deer parks and farms, can cause
huge damage to woodland.
Asked about the demand for stalking,
Alastair said the Deer Initiative had no
vested interest in obtaining stalking for
anyone – nor did it have any statutory
powers. Stalking is now not ‘moneydriven’ but based on a points system so is
no longer for an elite but is accessible to
more people and has become the biggest
shooting interest.
Refreshments were provided by Harold
Woolgar Insurance.
The full calendar of events for 2014 is
available on the YC&F website. All YCF
events are free to YCF members, £5 to
non-members.
YC&F work closely with the
Yorks