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Coastal View & Moor News Issue 29 November - December 2012


Government must listen to MPs and abandon badger cull


T


after MPs backed a motion calling on the Government to abandon its planned badger cull. It was announced recently that pilot culling schemes in Gloucestershire and Somerset would be delayed until 2013, following a request from the farmers carrying out the cull. Tees Valley Wildlife Trust continues to call on the Government to permanently scrap the cull and throw its weight behind better, lower risk, ways of tackling the disease MPs voted by 147 to 28 in favour of the motion, which called for the cull to be stopped in favour of a vaccination programme for


ees Valley Wildlife Trust urges the Government to listen to Parliament


is time for the Government to listen and use the available alternatives to tackle bTB. We are grateful to those MPs who took part in the debate today. We hope that the Secretary of State’s early departure from the Commons Chamber today does not mean his mind is closed to this issue. “A badger vaccine is available now and


improved biosecurity measures can help to reduce the spread of the disease. In the longer term a cattle vaccine can play a very real part in helping deal with the problem and the Government should now be putting the effort into ensuring this vaccine can be deployed as soon as possible.”


badgers and cattle, along with improved testing and biosecurity. The vote followed a five and a half hour Parliamentary debate, triggered after more than 163,000 people signed a petition opposing the cull. Paul Wilkinson, Head of Living Landscape for The Wildlife Trusts, said: “Scientists oppose the cull, the public opposes the cull and now MPs have voted against a cull. It


How to spot an otter C


You can start searching for one of the UK’s rare natural success stories with The Wildlife Trusts’ new guide Great places to see Otters. The Wildlife Trusts’


new online guide provides suggestions of 34 places to look for this elusive and beautiful animal – including Tees Valley Wildlife Trust’s Nature Reserve Portrack Marsh. Following near extinction during the middle of the twentieth century as a result of persecution and poisoning from pesticides, otters are now present in every English county, as well as Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Wi ldl i fe Trusts


atching a glimpse of a wild otter is something only few are lucky enough to experience.


up and down the roads or hills but in the rivers – there are now otters recorded in every county – that’s fantastic - and undoubtedly as a result of conservation efforts of Wildlife Trusts and others.”


have been at the forefront of conservation efforts to restore otter populations. Improved water quality, habitat management and increased protection for otters have all played a part in this remarkable conservation success story. Sightings are far from guaranteed and to increase


wild is a truly unforgettable experience and something to cherish,” said Steve Ashton, People and Wildlife Manager, Tees Valley Wildlife Trust. “Thanks to the hard work being undertaken by the Environment Agency’s Living Waterways project to get our rivers into better condition and the efforts of volunteers and employees at Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, more people in the Tees Valley are starting to enjoy the fantastic sight of this beautiful mammal.” The picture show volunteers putting in an otter holt at Portrack Marsh. Tell-tale signs Otters can be distinguished


your chances you’ll need to get up early! Please remember that otters are highly sensitive animals – disturbing otters or their habitat is an offence under the Wildlife & Countryside Act so tread carefully and quietly. The Wildlife Trusts’ Vice President, Bill Oddie,


said: “It is still a difficult task but you are more likely to get lucky in spotting an otter now than ever before. The main fact is that you now stand a pretty good chance of coming across an otter virtually anywhere in the country. I don’t mean


fur and a broader snout and chest. Otters depend on rivers and waterways, learning to swim at just 10 weeks old. Webbed feet, dense fur and the ability to close their ears and nose make them adept underwater swimmers. A helping hand Creating places for otters to shelter and give birth


from mink by a larger, stronger frame with paler


“To see an otter in the


in, called holts, is just one of the many activities that have contributed to their increased numbers at nature reserves. In addition, Tees Valley Wildlife Trust is constantly seeking help from volunteers in cleaning up waterways and surveying various habitats for otters.


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