Nature Notes

[poliphilo]

A small bird (sparrow or blue tit- the procedure is the same) perches on the railing, flicks its head left-right, left-right as if crossing the road, then launches across the brief open space to the feeder.

We had snow last night- great clumpy dobs of it- but the ground was too wet for it to settle. This morning is cloudless and there's a frost. Tonight I'm putting an extra cover on the bed.

Last night- after a complicated, tactical fight- parliament finally banned hunting with hounds. The ban comes into force- earlier than the Government wanted- in February.

I have stayed neutral on this one. The class warrior in me wanted a ban and the libertarian opposed it. Besides, I have never lived in any place where hunting was an issue. This ain't my fight.

I don't really see it as being about animal cruelty. The ban won't stop foxes being shot or poisoned. All it gets rid of is the ritual- the red coats and the stirrup cups and the tearing to bits and the arrogance.

It's been a while since I last saw a fox. A few years back one came trotting down our street at night. I followed it and found it nosing round the dustbin in a neighbour's yard and we eyeballed one another over the garden wall. I was almost close enough to reach out and touch. The orange streetlights made its eyes shine blue.

Comments

[besideserato.livejournal.com]

I think the banning of hunting with hounds is appalling. I am really, really upset at such an infringement. I do not see this being any more cruel than shooting at the foxes or, indeed, as you mentioned, poisoning them. I am officially annoyed.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Like I said, I'm neutral. I see both sides. It's the latest episode in a long, long epic of class warfare. Its toffs against plebs, country against town.

Emotionally I side with the plebs, but the war was won a good while back and this feels a bit like kicking the fallen enemy when he's down.

Most of the Labour MPs who have pushed for the ban couldn't really give a stuff about foxes.

[archyena.livejournal.com]

I was reading an article about British country v. town issues in the Guardian and I can't help but be reminded of all the fuss that happens over here. All the undeserved pride of people who haven't touched a plow in over 50 years, the dying communities that bemoan their own powerlessness, and the old men in a state of constant anger over the nastiness of the cities that provide the subsidies that allow them to sit at the bar of the little restaurant in some tiny village and complain about the people coming in from the cities.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The difference is (I think) that the British population is massively urbanized. The rural population is a remnant and possesses little political power.

[besideserato.livejournal.com]

I think it's total crap. I am sorry, I am so annoyed that I am totally inarticulate.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

This conflict has deep roots. It's the latest battle in the English Civil War. I'm torn- as one always is in a civil war- but ultimately I'm a Cromwellian.

[besideserato.livejournal.com]

I can imagine it does. I wonder what general repercussions this decision is going to have.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Hunt supporters are talking up a campaign of civil disobedience- and there's a challenge going through the courts.

[besideserato.livejournal.com]

It's going to be one Uncivil War.

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

Is the snow gone?

I love this time of year, with interesting weather.

was almost close enough to reach out and touch. The orange streetlights made its eyes shine blue.

We have coyotes in Oak Ridge, although I think I have only heard them once.

In nearby Gatlinburg, people have trouble with bears foraging through their trashcans--something to make you lock your screen door.

Down by the rivers, we sometimes see minks.

I didn't know about the ban on fox hunting. If the goal of a hunt is to watch while a fox is ripped apart, then the ban is perhaps one indicator that we may be outgrowing cruelty for its own sake.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The snow has gone. Maybe there'll be more over the weekend.

We banned sports like cock-fighting and bear-baiting a long time ago. The difference is that these were sports of the poor while fox-hunting is a sport of the rich.

[morrison-maiden.livejournal.com]

I think it's rather pointless for them to ban the hounds, if they still allow the actual hunting. It seems kind of useless to me. I wish I'd seen a fox. I've never seen one in person; I think it would be very cool. I've only seen turkeys around here. One of them came into our front yard and frightened my cat ^_^

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

They've banned hunting with hounds in Scotland- or partially banned it- and they now have a system where the hounds root out the fox and then men on quad-bikes go in and shoot it. That's what I've just heard on the radio. It's now less to do with sport and more to do with pest control.