The Hedgehog is one of our favourite mammals in the UK and is a member of the Erinaceinae subfamily of the Erinaceidae family. There are five genera of hedgehogs and sixteen distinct species that can be found globally – except in the Americas and Australia. From African deserts to frigid Russian winters, these small mammals have done wonderfully well to survive for thousands of years. Continue Reading... "029 – Hedgehogs Around the World"
With over three decades of experience with badgers, I am delighted to be able to share my insights into their ecology and behaviour in the wild. Continue Reading... "028 All about Badgers – Badger Ecology and Biology"
Captive-bred lions are sold to hunting estates where they are shot by hunters for entertainment, often while sedated and within small enclosures. Continue Reading... "027 – The Lion Bone Trade – A Roaring Success?"
Shooting estates have used the uplands as cash cows – taking millions in subsidies from taxpayers to support the killing of hundreds of thousands of birds every year in the name of entertainment. Land management is geared directly toward the welfare of the grouse, and the detriment of native wildlife and people. We believe that the majority of UK taxpayers would be horrified to know that their income tax is being given to wealthy landowners to support the killing of grouse for entertainment and that’s before they know about the snaring and poisoning of protected and native wild animals and the destruction of the upland peat bogs, carbon release from burning and the increased risk of flooding to those taxpayers homes and businesses in the lowlands. Continue Reading... "026 – Are We Subsidising Wildlife Persecution in the UK?"
Wildlife Matters is determined to see a ban on all animal traps in the UK. Such a senseless act of brutality should not be tolerated and those who use these killer devices must be held accountable for their heinous actions. The needless suffering of wild animals must end now! Continue Reading... "025 – Lifting the lid on wildlife traps and snares"
Between April and October, hunters target minks along the riverbanks. This practice is particularly egregious as the animal used to be a protected otter species. While only 17 hunts are officially recognised, the Hunt Saboteurs Association knows 20 more unregistered packs. Continue Reading... "024 – Why are we still Hunting Mink and Otters ?"
Using animal fur for clothing is no longer necessary—the technology to create ethical, humane materials for warm and fashionable garments has long been available. Are we content to make living creatures suffer and die so that we can decorate our bodies? Continue Reading... "023 – Farmed for their fur"
I have watched in horror as countless innocent foxes were torn apart by hounds, driven on by jeering huntsmen while the Hunt Monitors observed and recorded the blatant disregard for the lives of the foxes. I have borne witness to countless violations of the Hunting Act, yet on nearly every occasion the perpetrators are allowed to evade punishment. I have seen my fellow sabs bravely fight against an unyielding enemy, only to be met with ruthless aggression; kicked, punched, beaten with riding crops and even run over by horses. Even when justice has been sought, it has been denied as the police have proven time and time again that they will not stand against violence against wildlife protectors. Continue Reading... "022 – The end of the ‘Bloodhunters’ – Hunting is dying?"
We do not believe there to be any justifiable reason to keep wild cetaceans, or indeed any wild animal, in captivity. Profit and entertainment are not a reason to steel an animal away from its home and keep it in unnatural conditions that cause it physical, emotional and psychological distress and suffering, to lead a miserable and unfulfilled existence and in many cases, reduce its natural life span by up to 50%! Continue Reading... "021 – Born to be Wild The Cruelty of Captivity"
Ancient woodlands are identified by the abundance of plants that spread slowly over the ground and whose seeds fall close to the parent. Wild anemone, wood sorrel, wild garlic, guelder rose, wood spurge, and small-leaved lime are some of the most likely indicators of ancient woodland. These woodlands have existed for centuries and have developed unique communities of plants and animals that aren’t found in any other habitat. Continue Reading... "020 Wildlife Habitats – Ancient Woodlands"
Wildlife Matters Investigates the wild animals which are being poached for their body parts for the Illegal wildlife trade. Looking at the individual species and revealing the huge numbers of individuals that are being killed to fuel the black economy and the massive market with a misplaced faith in traditional medicine that is based on animal body parts. Continue Reading... "019 Poached for their body Parts – The illegal trade in wildlife"
Let me try to make that a little clearer
So after nine years, there will still be more TB than at the start point in 2013, but the increase in TB would be 16% less than would have been without culling badgers. Got it – Good Now here’s another brain twister: The 16% reduction in the rate of rise is very different to the 30% reduction in overall bTB that the NFU claimed – although they have never provided any evidence to support their statement. Continue Reading... "018 The Badger Culls – Let’s start at the very beginning…"
It is clear the Brown hare needs legal protection from the relentless slaughter of the shooting industry. Brown hare are not agricultural pests, they are Beautiful sentient animals who are now a part of the natural biodiversity of the UK. Continue Reading... "017 – Hare Hunting – Wildlife Matters Investigates"
Dolphins are intelligent and social creatures that, in the wild, live and interact within their pods, working together to raise their young and hunt for food. Food is always fresh, and they have entire oceans as their playground. Wild dolphins may swim 40 to 50 miles a day and dive to depths of hundreds of metres. Continue Reading... "016 Stolen from the Wild – Tragic Story of Dolphins and Orcas"
Hedgehogs, being the cool creatures they are, can survive well in cold weather – but they cannot survive without food. Continue Reading... "015 Hedgehog Hibernation"
These lions are ‘Bred for the bullet’ – They are sold to hunting companies who offer wealthy US and European hunters the guarantee of shooting a lion Continue Reading... "014 Captive Lions – Bred for the Bullet"
BovineTB, as the name suggests, usually affects Bovine animals, such as Cattle. However, it can affect nearly all mammals, causing general illness, coughing, and death. Continue Reading... "013 The Truth about BovineTB"
Did you know that 80% of plastic found in the sea – comes from the land? So, how does the plastic get there? Continue Reading... "012 Drowning in a sea of Plastic?"
Woodlands are not static – they are dynamic living entities that grow and develop with their unique mix of habitats, plants, and wildlife species. Woodlands, whatever their size, have a direct impact on the environment, climate, and local ecosystem. Continue Reading... "011 Woodlands – Happy healthy spaces for wildlife and People"
The days are short, and the chances to get out into nature may be few and far between, even more so during the current lockdown throughout the UK. For the hardy, who have layered up their clothing and waterproof boots, there is a lot of new life in the countryside – even in the middle of January. Continue Reading... "010 Winter Wildflowers You can find on your Winter Walks"
All about Badgers is a series of articles based on Badger ecology as we follow the Badger through the seasons of the year Continue Reading... "009 All About Badgers – A Winter’s Tale"
Wildlife Matters Investigates exposes the destruction of the habitat on our upland moors that are being managed for Red Grouse for the shooting estates destroying the carbon syncs of peatland and causing water contamination and flooding in the lowlands. Continue Reading... "008 – Moorland Devastation -Exposed!"
Some people were concerned that sparrowhawks predated many garden or songbirds, and they were associated mainly with the decline of the sparrow population. It’s worth noting that scientific studies have never supported this idea; in fact, they show the correlation between songbird and Sparrowhawk populations remains consistent with no long-term impact on songbird populations. Continue Reading... "007 A New Sparrowhawk family"
Fungi play a vital role in our ecosystems. This is because of their ability to recycle nutrients through decomposition and make them available to other plants. Continue Reading... "006 Mycelium – The Magic of Mushrooms"
We do not need to wear fur; many alternatives look and perform equal to, or better than, fur. It seems odd to me that wearing the fur of a dead animal could ever be considered ‘glamorous.’ Continue Reading... "005 Has the Pandemic killed the Fur trade?"
“It’s a lot easier to create a smokescreen if you’ve got more than one trail layer operating and that is what it’s all about, trying to portray to the people watching that you’re going about legitimate business.” Mark Hankinson MFHA Director Continue Reading... "004 Exposed! – Trail Hunting Webinars"
So why are many of our best-known conservation charities busily campaigning to ‘Save the Reds’? Continue Reading... "003 In Defence of the Grey Squirrel"
Further into the report, the NHS state: It is hard to estimate how common bites are as records are usually only kept of bites that were serious enough to require hospital treatment, which in England is around 6,000 cases of dog bites and 2,500 cases due to other bites, including human. And for accuracy and clarity, the NHS does not mention Fox Bites in the report. Continue Reading... "002 – Are Foxes Dangerous?"
the cyclical rhythms of the natural world. Many of the things we associate with Christmas are rooted in Pagan traditions. In our busy modern world, the relatively simple Pagan life is generally misunderstood, for example, the term Pagan came from Christians and was used to describe anyone that wasn’t a Christian, which at that time, was most of us. Continue Reading... "001 Winter Solstice The Origin of Christmas"
Wildlife Matters is building a community based on collaboratively working towards a vision for a better future for humans and animals on theis wonderous planet we call home. Continue Reading... "000 An Introduction to Wildlife Matters"
