1. WEBCAMS ON RUM WATCH THE RUT - LIVE NOW

BBC Naturewatch team is back with excellent footage

http://www.bbc.co.uk/autumnwatch/webcams/

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2. DEFRA GOES WILD...

Extract from Land-force.com

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has announced a review of England's wildlife and ecological network to see if it is capable of responding to the challenges of climate change and other pressures.

The review will look to see what benefits could be gained by connecting sites within designated areas and outside them through re-wilding initiatives - allowing farmland to return to its wild state which could include reintroductions of species such as lynx and elk.

3. LATE 2009 BDS COURSES - GO TO THE WEBSITE TRAINING PAGES

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4. DOG ATTACK ENDS IN DEER'S DEATH

BBC News 6^.th October 2009

A deer has had to be put down after it was attacked by four dogs being walked by a man in the Scottish Borders. The incident happened on Sunday afternoon in the Stouslie Dump area of Stirches near Hawick.

A man aged between 30 and 40, of large build and wearing a blue puffa jacket and camouflage trousers was seen with the dogs which attacked two deer.

One of the dogs is thought to have been a Staffordshire bull terrier and another a lurcher. The third dog is described as white with patches but no description has been given of the fourth dog.

Anyone who can identify the man or has further information about the attack has been asked to contact Lothian and Borders police.

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5. PET STAGS SHOT BY MYSTERY KILLERS

Times on line 04.10.09

The owner of London's most celebrated night-spots appears to have fallen victim to a rural backlash against rich incomers after two pet stags were shot dead on his Somerset estate.

Richard Caring, 61, whose portfolio includes Annabel's in Mayfair and the Ivy restaurant in the West End, has offered a £15,000 reward for information leading to the killers' arrest. He has also hired former special forces soldiers using infrared night sights to guard the deer at his home on Exmoor. The stags were killed by rifles in a 10-acre pen in front of the house, Pixton Stables, near Dulverton.

It is feared Caring and his wife Jackie may have been targeted as rich outsiders. He has offended some residents with plans for a glass annex to accommodate shooting guests at the house, where the Carings have lived since 2005.

Others have been upset at what they see as excessive numbers of pheasants killed on the property, for which the couple paid £1m

This weekend Caring, who has a £350m fortune, said the animals appeared to have been killed out of spite — the bodies had been left, suggesting poachers were not to blame.

"Poaching is one thing, but killing just for enjoyment is quite another," said Caring, whose other properties also include Le Caprice restaurant and Wentworth golf club in Surrey. "I am hoping local people will not want to be associated with this mindless violence. I know most are decent types; what a shame it would be if they were tarred with the same brush as the people who did this."

Exmoor has been the scene of a series of clashes between locals and outsiders.

Last month the writer Liz Jones was said to be "upset, traumatised and frightened" after the metal letterbox at the end of her drive was peppered with shotgun pellets. Jones, who lives less than two miles from the Carings, had written a book called The Exmoor Files How I Lost a Husband and Found Rural Bliss, in which she described her neighbours as "toothless farmers" and portrayed them as "dirty, smelly and vicious".

There are long-running divisions between traditional residents and "incomers" over the buying of properties, which then stand empty for much of the year. In 2002 a proposal by the Exmoor National Park Authority to ensure that any new building or conversion was sold to locals was defeated.

The Carings appear to have fallen victim to this friction. The dead stags from the 20- strong herd were found in the same bed of bracken. They are thought to have been shot from about 15ft while asleep. The spot cannot be seen from the house and is shielded by a fallen oak, suggesting the killers had local knowledge.

The first stag, a six-year-old with impressive antlers, was found dead on September 13. The second died last Saturday as Caring's son Ben and his bride Elle celebrated their wedding at the family's £15m home in north London. The guests included Kate Moss, the model, and Liz Hurley, the actress.

Alex Cheyne, Caring's estate manager, said there had been no attempt to take the animals' antlers as trophies or to drag them away for meat.

"I can't think why anyone around here would want to do this to Mr Caring. He's always done his best to fit in and support the local economy. We use the builders, the vets, the feed merchants, everything we can do in the community is done in the community," Cheyne said.

Caring first clashed with residents within two years of moving into Pixton. Several neighbours criticised his new glass "winter palace" with accommodation for eight guests, with a gym, steam room and swimming pool.

On another occasion locals drew up a 40-strong petition to object to the noise, damage and disease allegedly caused by his pheasant shoot, which they claimed was overstocked. The shoot was wound up last year.

Sergeant Andy Whysall, the Avon and Somerset police officer investigating the incidents, said: "We are treating them as criminal damage as both stags were not wild and were privately owned and fenced in."

Caring said: "We have very serious security in place now. I would love them to try again."

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6. CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF DEER ON THE ROADS

Highways Agency highlights the dangers to deer and road users during autumn and the following spring.

Telegraph.co.uk   By David Williams Published: 4:33PM BST 30 Sep 2009

Up to 74,000 collisions between vehicles and deer happen on UK roads each year, figures from the Highways Agency show. Most deer are killed but thousands are left to die of injuries and the worst times of year are coming up; autumn and spring, especially around dawn and dusk. The Agency reports that each year people are killed and injured in road collisions with wild deer, and there have been over 1,000 deer-vehicle collisions recorded since September 2007 on the motorway and A-road network alone.

In a bid to raise awareness of the problem, the Agency is producing fresh publicity material as part of a new DeerAware campaign.

Tony Sangwine, senior environmental principal for the Highways Agency, said: "Deer are highly unpredictable and can suddenly appear on the road, particularly at dusk and dawn, and in spring and autumn. We are encouraging local road safety partnerships and others to use the DeerAware material to target drivers in the highest risk areas."

The Agency is advising drivers to check their speed and remain alert when they see deer warning signs. When driving with headlights on, motorists should use full beam when possible but dip them if they see deer to prevent them "freezing" in the glare.

Drivers should remember that more deer may follow the first one they spot, and they should slow and be prepared to stop.

"Try not to suddenly swerve to avoid a deer," says the Agency. "Hitting oncoming traffic or another obstacle could be even worse."

If you have to stop, use your hazard warning lights and do not approach an injured deer - it could be dangerous, says the Agency.

"It's not just that the number of deer is increasing," said Professor David Macdonald, chair of the deer-vehicle awareness working group. "We really need drivers to slow down and watch out. This autumn there is likely to be another rise in deer-vehicle collisions."

More at deeraware.org.uk

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7. BOVINE TB ERADICATION PROGRAMME TAKES IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD

The Welsh Assembly Government is a step closer to implementing a wildlife strategy as part of its comprehensive bovine TB eradication programme which aims to tackle the disease in cattle and badgers and also other TB susceptible animals such as camelids and goats.

Following consideration of the responses to a 14-week public consultation, the Minister today (30 September) laid the TB Eradication (Wales) Order 2009, which will give the Assembly Government the powers to use culling and vaccination of badgers as part of the eradication programme.

Of the 741 responses to the consultation, the issue of culling as a part of a badger control strategy attracted most responses. 50% of the total respondents opposed culling as part of the strategy, while 49% agreed that a badger cull could have an impact on TB eradication if carried out alongside cattle measures.  Of the Welsh responses 85% agreed that culling needed to be considered as part of a badger control strategy.  

The Minister stressed that the legislation did not, in itself, mean the start of a badger cull but that an important part of the preparatory work is complete. Work on environmental considerations and defining the area is also underway.

The Minister said: "TB in cattle is one of the biggest threats facing the dairy and beef industry in Wales. Last year, over 12,000 cattle were culled because of the disease, and nearly £25million spent in compensation. We have already slaughtered over 8000 cattle this year; this time last year it was just over 7000. By 2014, the cost to the taxpayer could be £80million if action to eradicate TB in cattle is not taken.

"TB Health Check Wales, an initiative to test all cattle herds in Wales before the end of December is ahead of schedule and has succeeded so far in identifying nearly 100 new herd breakdowns that may not have been discovered for another four years. All cattle herds in Wales will also be tested again in 2010. In less than a year, we have also dramatically reduced the number of overdue tests pre Health Check Wales by over 97% from 711 tests to 18.

"Following the recent consultation on legal powers, and consideration of the responses submitted, I am still of the view that a badger cull in an Intensive Action Pilot Area (IAPA) is necessary as part of our programme to eradicate bovine TB. Before I make a final decision on an IAPA, there are further steps which need to be taken.

"I have always said that any cull of badgers could only go ahead when all preparatory work is complete. This Order is an important step towards completing that work, providing the necessary legal powers for a Welsh Assembly Government managed cull.

"Work is well underway on environmental considerations, and to identify the exact boundaries of the IAPA, which I have already indicated is likely to be in the North Pembrokeshire area.

"The outcome of this work will inform my final decision.

"During any cull, appropriate monitoring and assessment will be essential to establish the success or otherwise of this pilot. We should then be in a position to take decisions on any expansion of this scheme. However, this would only be in areas where TB is endemic and all badgers in Wales will not be culled.

"However, even though bovine TB is an escalating problem, with over 12,000 cattle slaughtered last year, it is not a problem everywhere. We will adopt strategies that are suitable to the locality and in areas where the incidence of TB is low, keeping the disease out of the area is the priority."

Animals other than cattle are susceptible to bovine TB as has been demonstrated by recent incidents of the disease in camelids, such as llamas and alpacas, as well as goats.

An Order came in force on 22 October 2008 which provides specific powers in Wales for inspectors to enter land and to obtain a warrant for the purpose of testing for the disease. It relates to cattle, sheep and goats and all other ruminating animals, including camelids, and swine.  In Autumn 2008, Assembly Government consulted stakeholders on a Framework for Preventing and Managing Incidents of Bovine TB in Camelids. Respondents were supportive of arrangements to prevent and manage the disease in camelids.

There is currently no regular TB testing regime for TB in goats. The Food Standards Agency is working closely with the Welsh Assembly Government, the other devolved administrations, and Defra on the development of an approved TB control plan for raw drinking milk from goats and other animals, other than cows and buffaloes, susceptible to the disease. A policy for dealing with camelids and goats is being developed by the Welsh Assembly Government.

For further information please contact the Welsh Assembly Government Press Office on  029 2089 8490  029 2089 8490

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8. THE MAMMAL SOCIETY'S 2010 EASTER CONFERENCE AND AGM

Bangor University, 26-28 March 2010

 Second call for papers

 To present a paper or poster, send the Scientific Programme Coordinator the following details:

o       Title of presentation

o       Author's names and addresses

o       An abstract of no more than 150 words

Please indicate whether your presentation is a paper or poster

Electronic submission by email is preferred and the deadline is: 31 Oct 2009

Five bursaries, each worth £50, are available to student members who present a paper; there is also The Acorn Ecology Prize of £250 for the best student paper and The Merlin Prize of £100 for the best student poster.

Details about student bursaries, prizes and the required format for abstracts are available on The Mammal Society website (www.mammal.org.uk) or from the Scientific Programme Coordinator.

Check the website for further details. (www.mammal.org.uk)

Dr Steve Carter (Scientific Programme Coordinator)

The Food and Environment Research Agency, Woodchester Park, Tinkley Lane, Nympsfield, Glos, GL10 3UJ

Email: steve.carter@fera.gsi.gov.uk

Tel:  01453 861410  01453 861410

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9. DEER COLLISIONS AUTUMN AWARENESS PUSH IN THE US

From Dr Jochen Langbein

Following launch of the new "DeerAware" campaign you may feel a bit punch drunk by information circulated on Deer Vehicle Collisions.  

Nevertheless, I thought the recent US Press release (below - 28/9/09) from State Farm Insurance might be of interest to you for comparison, showing we in UK are far from the only ones to be concerned.

Latest US estimates are that there have been 2.4 million deer-vehicle-collisions over the last 24mth (up 18% cf 5yrs ago); with such incidents apparently occurring now around once every 26 seconds somewhere in the US.  

Incidentally - our upper estimate for UK DVCs (c. 74,000) is identical to estimate for New York State alone.

The MAP web-link embedded in the press release of DVC frequency by State is particularly interesting, showing e.g. that in West Virginia the likelihood per vehicle hitting a deer per year is put as high as 1 in 39 ; but drops to 1 in 1500 in California; (average 1 in 208 across the US as a whole). 

The equivalent figure for UK (based on our most likely conservative 'estimate' of 74,000  DVCs pa and c26 million vehicles averages out at around 1 in 350 vehicles hitting a deer; though with of course similar wide variation across regions and traffic density.

Dr Jochen Langbein Project Leader
DI National Deer Vehicle Collisions Research
Tel.  01984 641366  01984 641366   see also: www.deercollisions.co.uk & www.deeraware.co.uk

STATE FARM NEWSROOM
Deer-Vehicle Collision Frequency Jumps 18 Percent In Five Years

West Virginia Continues to Lead Collision Likelihood List

Bloomington, Ill., Sept. 28, 2009 - The number of vehicles on U.S. roadways has grown by 7 percent over the last five years. But the number of times those vehicles have collided with deer has swelled by much more than that.

Using its claims data, State Farm®, the nation's leading auto insurer estimates 2.4 million collisions between deer and vehicles occurred in the U.S. during the two-year period between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2009 (100,000 per month). That's 18.3 percent more than five years earlier. To put it another way, one of these unfortunate encounters occurs every 26 seconds (although they are much more likely during the last three months of the year and in the early evening).

MORE DEER-VEHICLE COLLISIONS Among the 35 states where at least 7,000 deer-vehicle collisions occur per year (we are not including the percentage changes in the other 15 states plus D.C. because the lower volume of total collisions makes the percentage changes less credible), New Jersey and Nebraska have posted the largest increases, 54 percent. Kansas is next at 41 percent. Deer-vehicle collisions have jumped by 38 percent in Florida, Mississippi and Arkansas. Then come Oklahoma (34 percent) and West Virginia, North Carolina and Texas (33 percent).

LIKELIHOOD OF DEER-VEHICLE COLLISIONS For the third year in a row, West Virginia tops the list of those states where a collision with a deer is most likely (for any one vehicle). Using its claims data in conjunction with state motor vehicle registration counts from the Federal Highway Administration, State Farm calculates the chances of a West Virginia vehicle striking a deer over the next 12 months at 1 in 39. Such an encounter is even more likely in West Virginia than it was a year ago.

Michigan remains second on that list. The likelihood of a specific vehicle striking a deer there is 1 in 78. Pennsylvania (1 in 94) and Iowa (1 in 104) remain third and fourth respectively. Montana (1 in 104) moved up three places to fifth.

Arkansas and South Dakota each dropped a spot to sixth and seventh. Wisconsin remains eighth. North Dakota and Virginia round out the top 10. The state in which deer-vehicle collisions are least likely is still Hawaii (1 in 9,931). The odds of

any one vehicle hitting a deer in Hawaii during the next year are roughly equivalent to the odds of randomly picking a piece of clover and finding it has four leaves.