Bussard Control

[lachlanandmarcus]

If the OP was really committed to the protection of buzzards they might want to look up how to spell their name :-((((

Blanket protection of predator species which are in no way endangered does no species any favours. Limited targeted control whilst maintaining protection where they are not causing such a problem is not an unreasonable way to go IMO.

 

[Orangehorse]

I like to see the Buzzards flying around. There don't seem to be so many as in previous years so either they have found a convenient game farm to sit by (I suspect this is the case, locally) or there is less food for them.

Buzzards will take hares as well, as witnessed by a local tractor driver.

PS - it is true that badgers kill hegehogs, or at least eat all the things that hedgehogs like, it even said this on the BBC! When badger numbers get too high, hedgehog numbers go down.

 

[Hairy Old Cob]

I like to see the Buzzards flying around. There don't seem to be so many as in previous years so either they have found a convenient game farm to sit by (I suspect this is the case, locally) or there is less food for them.

Buzzards will take hares as well, as witnessed by a local tractor driver.

PS - it is true that badgers kill hegehogs, or at least eat all the things that hedgehogs like, it even said this on the BBC! When badger numbers get too high, hedgehog numbers go down.

Badger are total oppurtunists they will take anthing they can get hold of Lambs chickens Hedgehogs anything, they were not given their teeth and Jaws to eat Slugs and Worms as the bunny huggers would have you believe. The Fox gets Blamed for a LOT of the Badgers work.

 

[Dobiegirl]

We have a fair few Buzzards around here and its a lovely sight to see them catch the thermals. When I used to have my free range hens if a Buzzard came over they would squak and run for their houses. Never had a problem though unlike hot air balloons which really terrified them and put them off lay for a few days.

In winter when everyone is muck spreading the Buzzards gather and follow them out across the fields after worms I guess.

Badgers not only take hedgehogs but also have an impact on wild bees, digging up their nests for honey.

 

[marmalade76]

I am surprised at the lack of support on here for country pursuits, and rural employment, I think it indicates how far the average horse owner is removed from traditional agricultural practices, without which there would now be no bridleways, no drover routes, no copses, no grass drives, no hedges, nothing but boggy march and unimproved land which would not allow biodiversity or riding. A number of "country parks" are part of former estates.

Shoots have nothing to do with agriculture, they are for stinking rich townies up from London for a weekend jolly 'cause it's the thing to do. Yes, I know a few farmers who shoot, but on their own land, not these big estate shoots. Here speaks the wife of a man who has worked in agriculture all his life and couldn't give a stuff if we never see a weekend shooter again!!

 

[Tormenta]

We've got far too many buzzards around here and they need culling same as magpies and badgers, none of which have any predators. People need to wake up and recognize the true natural facts that if something hasn't any predators that they will gradually be so strong as to wipe out it's natural diet. Why haven't we any hedgehogs? Because the bloody badgers eat them.

Knocking nests out will discourage them from that nesting place so will only drive them to other areas.

And Jesus then wept For Crying out loud, the reason we have imbalances in nature is because we constantly interfere.

Please research your facts. Birds of Preys have TERRITORIES, they can not outbalance each other!!!! I am sick of the absence of true facts on this forum regarding predators and their prey. Birds of Prey WILL actually catch and prey on each other, depending on size.

Let's just wipe every predator out in the UK then you will all be happy campers with an abundance of prey animals to get rid of.

By the way, make sure you get rid of your pet cats at the same time. Hypocrites.

 

[Miss L Toe]

Shoots have nothing to do with agriculture, they are for stinking rich townies up from London for a weekend jolly 'cause it's the thing to do. Yes, I know a few farmers who shoot, but on their own land, not these big estate shoots. Here speaks the wife of a man who has worked in agriculture all his life and couldn't give a stuff if we never see a weekend shooter again!!

Estates manage the land to promote wildlife and conservation, sowing crops to provide cover and feed, these increase biodiversity for insects and birds. Hedges are maintained [cf farmland these days], grass is not ploughed and re-seeded with rygrass monoculture, rapeseed [an abomination due to pollen], is limited, winter barley and wheat will not be doused in herbicides and pesticides if game are reared on the estate. Forest drives will be maintained, and the whole estate will be kept neat and tidy.
The more work which can be generated in the countryside, the better as far as I am concerned: employment is available for the gamekeeper, his assistant, and all the beaters, drivers, catering staff, guest houses and the local pub will gain income. Children are born, keeping the local school in business.
The agricultural industry contributes only 1% to GDP, and one percent to the UK vote, but if the rich and powerful do a bit of shooting, they are worth pandering to!.... politically and economically.

 

[mtj]

First off apologies for my thread title. Bit tragic as i have an A level in English....

I just don't see how it would be managed ethically.

So, no I do not know how long a Buzzard will live in captivity. Are they planning to trap them for several weeks and then re-release, or will shots soon has barracks of avaries for all the Buzzard they have captured over the years. Who will monitor, and at what cost, these captive buzzards? I do know that pheasants are not raised in tree houses!

I live in shooting country ie midst of a country estate (with Buzzards), but I do not recognise the description given by Miss L Toe. Rape is flowering in abundance, farmers are spraying and the village school (and community) still exists courtesy of a housing estate.

But have to say, shooting is probably the only reason broadleaf woodland survives in my area. Everything else is under the plough.

 

[Alec Swan]

I apologise for disappearing, I had no choice. Anyway, I do have clear thoughts, and they've grown and coalesced through the years. These are only my thoughts, and I'm not insisting that I'm right!!

Firstly, I was previously employed for a good few years on commercially run shoots, as a game keeper. I still shoot, but am starting to view the commercialisation of shooting with some distaste. I try not to let that cloud my views though!!

Buzzards are curious birds, in that they are neither hawks nor falcons nor eagles, and were never of use to the falconer, for the simple reason that they were too slow, and too clumsy to actually catch anything.

I was always under the impression that they relied upon carrion, and as they were in such limited numbers, they managed to eke out a living. Now that there has been a population explosion, I've had to do a bit of research, and have discovered that the bulk of the buzzard's diet is made up from earth worms and beetles. That seems to me to be a very strange diet for one of our largest birds of prey. Those simple facts, in themselves make them of little threat to the game keeper, and I always found that during the months of September to November, when pheasants would stray from home, and I used to spend most of my waking hours, "Dogging" birds home. When the Buzzard was about, straying across open fields was minimised. He was something of an ally!!

There's no doubt that buzzards will catch the odd early released poult against netting, but the damage at the release pen is for from the disturbance factor, than the birds which are killed, and they can be a bloody nuisance. Of greater nuisance factor, are Tawny Owls and they can wreak costly havoc. It's generally adult owls teaching their fledged youngsters how to kill, and they can go on a spree. I once had a release pen with 2500 birds in it, and with nightly attacks, within ten days, I was feeding about 250 birds every morning. The attacks only stopped when I sat in the pen, on a chair, all night. It was heart breaking, and I was at a level of exhaustion which I haven't known since!

Generally speaking, when we have huge population rises, in any bird or mammal, it's because the environment is suitable. Just what has been responsible for the massive lift, for instance in Magpies and Buzzards, I don't understand, because neither are reliant upon reared game, and as we now rear so many pheasants, we tend to ignore the naturally produced wild birds, no matter what your local 'keeper will tell you!!

We seem to have our world, no matter how you look at it, altered so that common sense has been abandoned. Just as we have an employment system, where the power of the unions has been severed, so we now have a system whereby the employer seems able to do as he pleases. So with wild life, we live in a world where the charities, the conservationists, and I'm sorry, but the bunny huggers, have a power which they seem unable to manage. Everything has to live for ever, we have badgers in numbers where there is no control, we have urban foxes which are, or soon will be living in greater numbers than their rural cousins.

With moderation, every living creature needs to be predated, but within reasonable bounds.

My meal's ready so I'm off!!

Alec.

 

[Mrs B]

I apologise for disappearing, I had no choice. Anyway, I do have clear thoughts, and they've grown and coalesced through the years. These are only my thoughts, and I'm not insisting that I'm right!!

Firstly, I was previously employed for a good few years on commercially run shoots, as a game keeper. I still shoot, but am starting to view the commercialisation of shooting with some distaste. I try not to let that cloud my views though!!

Buzzards are curious birds, in that they are neither hawks nor falcons nor eagles, and were never of use to the falconer, for the simple reason that they were too slow, and too clumsy to actually catch anything.

I was always under the impression that they relied upon carrion, and as they were in such limited numbers, they managed to eke out a living. Now that there has been a population explosion, I've had to do a bit of research, and have discovered that the bulk of the buzzard's diet is made up from earth worms and beetles. That seems to me to be a very strange diet for one of our largest birds of prey. Those simple facts, in themselves make them of little threat to the game keeper, and I always found that during the months of September to November, when pheasants would stray from home, and I used to spend most of my waking hours, "Dogging" birds home. When the Buzzard was about, straying across open fields was minimised. He was something of an ally!!

There's no doubt that buzzards will catch the odd early released poult against netting, but the damage at the release pen is for from the disturbance factor, than the birds which are killed, and they can be a bloody nuisance. Of greater nuisance factor, are Tawny Owls and they can wreak costly havoc. It's generally adult owls teaching their fledged youngsters how to kill, and they can go on a spree. I once had a release pen with 2500 birds in it, and with nightly attacks, within ten days, I was feeding about 250 birds every morning. The attacks only stopped when I sat in the pen, on a chair, all night. It was heart breaking, and I was at a level of exhaustion which I haven't known since!

Generally speaking, when we have huge population rises, in any bird or mammal, it's because the environment is suitable. Just what has been responsible for the massive lift, for instance in Magpies and Buzzards, I don't understand, because neither are reliant upon reared game, and as we now rear so many pheasants, we tend to ignore the naturally produced wild birds, no matter what your local 'keeper will tell you!!

We seem to have our world, no matter how you look at it, altered so that common sense has been abandoned. Just as we have an employment system, where the power of the unions has been severed, so we now have a system whereby the employer seems able to do as he pleases. So with wild life, we live in a world where the charities, the conservationists, and I'm sorry, but the bunny huggers, have a power which they seem unable to manage. Everything has to live for ever, we have badgers in numbers where there is no control, we have urban foxes which are, or soon will be living in greater numbers than their rural cousins.

With moderation, every living creature needs to be predated, but within reasonable bounds.

My meal's ready so I'm off!!

Alec.

Agree with everything, except about the loss of power by the Unions - blackmailing, dinosuar-type, greedy personages... (being as polite as I can type here)

 

[Hairy Old Cob]

Shoots have nothing to do with agriculture, they are for stinking rich townies up from London for a weekend jolly 'cause it's the thing to do. Yes, I know a few farmers who shoot, but on their own land, not these big estate shoots. Here speaks the wife of a man who has worked in agriculture all his life and couldn't give a stuff if we never see a weekend shooter again!!

Marmalade 76 I was always told if you do not know what you are talking about then it is better to keep your mouth SHUT and listen to those that DO Their are the Big Shoots that I dont go along with but most are like the syndicate I am in you walk 18 Miles and are lucky if you get half a dozen shots.
And yes I have been a guest gun on some of the Big posh Shoots and if you had wanted you could have had a massacre but most guns are like myself pick and choose the birds you shoot. Because getting 3-4 shots per drive is a luxury, not having a second gun and a loader.
I am not one of the stinking rich brigade but one of the 80 hour a week Brigade I earn Good money but work Fuc**** hard for it, and Yes I am No Townie and I left Agriculture Begrudgingly So that I could earn BETTER MONEY.

 

[marmalade76]

Estates manage the land to promote wildlife and conservation, sowing crops to provide cover and feed, these increase biodiversity for insects and birds. Hedges are maintained [cf farmland these days], grass is not ploughed and re-seeded with rygrass monoculture, rapeseed [an abomination due to pollen], is limited, winter barley and wheat will not be doused in herbicides and pesticides if game are reared on the estate. Forest drives will be maintained, and the whole estate will be kept neat and tidy.
The more work which can be generated in the countryside, the better as far as I am concerned: employment is available for the gamekeeper, his assistant, and all the beaters, drivers, catering staff, guest houses and the local pub will gain income. Children are born, keeping the local school in business.
The agricultural industry contributes only 1% to GDP, and one percent to the UK vote, but if the rich and powerful do a bit of shooting, they are worth pandering to!.... politically and economically.

Red bit - a bit of a joke considering what this thread is about!

These local schools you talk of, unfortunately for us, we cannot afford to live where my husband works what with all the house prices being driven up by the influx of townies (who have to be fairly well off to move there), even a place with an ag tie is expensive 'cause the ties are so easy to get rid of these days, so, we are unable to support the village school. No, instead we have to live in a town and spend a fortune on fuel to so my husband can drive to and from work whilst the country dwelling townies drive the other way!

No estste or shooting business puts any work our way.

 

[marmalade76]

Marmalade 76 I was always told if you do not know what you are talking about then it is better to keep your mouth SHUT and listen to those that DO Their are the Big Shoots that I dont go along with but most are like the syndicate I am in you walk 18 Miles and are lucky if you get half a dozen shots.
And yes I have been a guest gun on some of the Big posh Shoots and if you had wanted you could have had a massacre but most guns are like myself pick and choose the birds you shoot. Because getting 3-4 shots per drive is a luxury, not having a second gun and a loader.
I am not one of the stinking rich brigade but one of the 80 hour a week Brigade I earn Good money but work Fuc**** hard for it, and Yes I am No Townie and I left Agriculture Begrudgingly So that I could earn BETTER MONEY.

Traitor!


My reply was aimed at Miss L toe who suggested that large estate shoots were part of agriculture, as someone married to some who works in agriculture, I disagree. She was also talking about large estate shoots, which my husband informs me costs a hell of a lot of money to shoot at, I assume is bit different from what you do.

She also states that this is about pandering to the rich and powerful, which you have been obviously keen to point out that you are not.

 

[marmalade76]

Anyway, I admit you are right, Hairy, I don't really know much about it, despite being in agriculture and all

Someone tried to set up a shooting school right next to where my ponies are. PP was turned down due to the fact that there is a bridleway and public footpath running right through their farm. Plenty of buzzards round here and I hope that that's the way it stays

 

[Faithkat]

I have buzzards in my fields most of the time - they do a wonderful job keeping the pesky wild rabbits down, but what I don't understand with regard to the original post/link is that - quote - "The species is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and it is an offence to kill, injure or take a buzzard, or to take, damage or destroy an active nest or its contents." So the law is going to be changed to suit someone's purpose again, is it?

 

[Miss L Toe]

I may have painted an ideal situation, but they do exist.
http://www.ukagriculture.com/conservation/purdey_award.cfm
... not all the awards are to Lords of the Realm, but it is fitting that the largest landowners should be at the forefront of conservation, and I would point out that they do own a lot of farmland, and have a good grip of farming practices on their land.
Over the last twenty years grants have been made available to help with countryside stewardship, many mistakes have been made, but even on a local scale, biodiversity is seen as progression not regression in the countryside.
Agriculture has shaped the landscapes of the UK, but we have to remember that there is not only the GDP of agriculture to consider, but also wider implications for tourism, country crafts, rural employment in general. not everyone wants to live in a city, or in a rural area, but most ordinary people enjoy the countryside, and use it for their leisure pursuits.

 

[Miss L Toe]

I have buzzards in my fields most of the time - they do a wonderful job keeping the pesky wild rabbits down, but what I don't understand with regard to the original post/link is that - quote - "The species is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and it is an offence to kill, injure or take a buzzard, or to take, damage or destroy an active nest or its contents." So the law is going to be changed to suit someone's purpose again, is it?

Quite a few people on here took exception to hundreds of thousands being put in to research which is flawed, and looks at illegal practices, it is a waste of money, nothing will be done, nor should it, time and time again we have seen people state that buzzards are territorial, and will adjust their territory to adapt to the prey available.
A lot of UK voters once considered that hunting foxes in pink coats was an offence to their political views, so it became a vote catching exercise, after that [ban on hunting] fiasco, I don't see this law being altered.

 

[Fantasy_World]

Firstly raising game birds for shooting is nothing like a farmer rearing stock. One is to sustain a hobby and the other for food.
Game was a vital part of the diet many, many years ago now and even butchers that I know used to have more game displayed than they do now. I might see the occasional rabbit and odd pheasant but that is about it.
I can understand that shooting and raising game birds to be shot does support jobs and the local economy where the shoots take place, but then so did hunting and that was considered a hobbyist sport too.
I have no issue with people raising game birds to be shot as long as they are raised humanely and dispatched as quickly and as pain free as possible.
I would prefer the birds to be wild however in today's modern Britain that is near high impossible unless shooting takes place in remote places in the UK.
What I do have an issue with is the killing of any raptor just so their culling would lead to a higher number of game bird survival ( or so is thought).
I agree that buzzard numbers have increased over the years. When I was child the only place I would see them was in Wales or Devon on holiday. There was a couple that lived in woodland near to me around 14 years ago but I am now seeing more buzzards in the area and can even hang out washing and watch them rise on the thermals. I do live in a semi rural area though.
I enjoy watching them and I want to continue seeing them.
Buzzards do eat rabbits and they do also feed on carrion.
Has anyone thought that the reason that the carrion eaters are surviving in numbers is due to the carrion that we as humans are providing them.
I do not know the exact figures but I do know that the number and widths of roads has increased since my childhood to adulthood. There has also been a huge increase on the traffic on the roads. Not just in towns but the country roads too.
Improved engines, increases in road speed ( and handling) coupled with quieter cars means that animals on the roads ( or verges) are more at risk now than they ever were. Add to this more vehicles on the roads and you can see the developing picture.
It would be interesting if anyone has ever conducted an average annual tonnage of road kill per year in the UK. Wild birds and animals as well as pets and livestock.
I would put my life on this to say that there is more roadkill now in the UK than there was say in the 1970's and even the 80's!
This roadkill is part of what is feeding the animals and birds that eat carrion as part of their diets.
Human intervention yet again. We have fuelled the problem and now we are trying to kill the animals to sort an issue that we have helped to create in the first place. It always the animals that get it though isn't it. We never tackle the real issues though do we like too many cars, too many humans in the UK and the destruction of habitat for human gain?
If the killing of buzzards does go ahead then I can see this opening up the flood gates for requests to kill other birds of prey

 

[Miss L Toe]

In Ye Olden Days the gamekeeper and his pals shot or poisoned anything that moved, this is now illegal, hence more buzzards, more Red Kite [carrion elective] and so on.
Dieldrin has been banned, so eggshells are stronger and more birds have more breeding success.
There may be more road kill, but birds of prey have greater breeding success and are in less danger when adult.
Pheasant are non native and would not last long if left to themselves, Grouse are subject to severe population swings, but appear to need extensive and expensive moorland habitat management. Grey Partridge and other native game birds need a particular habitat which means that landowners have to manage their environment.
PS I am no particular expert on these things, though I do have some education in things agricultural, it is common knowledge among people raised in the country.

 

[Fantasy_World]

[ no particular expert on these things, though I do have some education in things agricultural, it is common knowledge among people raised in the country.[/QUOTE]

Is this meant to be wit?

 

[Miss L Toe]

[ no particular expert on these things, though I do have some education in things agricultural, it is common knowledge among people raised in the country.

Is this meant to be wit?[/QUOTE]
Not really, I just think lot of the postings on this thread are from people who have strong opinions, with minimal understanding of farming and conservation.

 

[Fantasy_World]

How can you make those assumptions of people who you have A) not met and B) know nothing about their life and experiences?

 

[Alec Swan]

How can you make those assumptions of people who you have A) not met and B) know nothing about their life and experiences?

I'd say that's fairly simple. You read their thoughts, and propositions, and draw your own conclusions.

Alec.

 

[Dobiegirl]

Some of us are lucky enough to have a crystal ball.

 

[jrp204]

My brothers farm 500 acres, mostly cereals, over the last 15 yrs we have had a massive explosion of buzzards, my OH counted 33 in the field he was ploughing last year. We have ravens, sparrowhawks, kestrels, buzzards, magpies, jays, barn and tawny owls, you name it we have them! There is also a syndicate of shooters on the farm which puts down about 200 poults a year, have they had a problem with buzzards, no, roadkill yes. The shoot has also meant my brother has a real willingness to plant game cover etc which is a huge boost to other farmland birds which are generally in decline. We have exeter uni monitering the barn owls around the farm and they have had a major problem with the tawny's taking the chicks, neither owl box last year fledged chicks, they were all taken which was rather gutting.

 

[marmalade76]

Firstly raising game birds for shooting is nothing like a farmer rearing stock. One is to sustain a hobby and the other for food.
Game was a vital part of the diet many, many years ago now and even butchers that I know used to have more game displayed than they do now. I might see the occasional rabbit and odd pheasant but that is about it.
I can understand that shooting and raising game birds to be shot does support jobs and the local economy where the shoots take place, but then so did hunting and that was considered a hobbyist sport too.
I have no issue with people raising game birds to be shot as long as they are raised humanely and dispatched as quickly and as pain free as possible.
I would prefer the birds to be wild however in today's modern Britain that is near high impossible unless shooting takes place in remote places in the UK.
What I do have an issue with is the killing of any raptor just so their culling would lead to a higher number of game bird survival ( or so is thought).
I agree that buzzard numbers have increased over the years. When I was child the only place I would see them was in Wales or Devon on holiday. There was a couple that lived in woodland near to me around 14 years ago but I am now seeing more buzzards in the area and can even hang out washing and watch them rise on the thermals. I do live in a semi rural area though.
I enjoy watching them and I want to continue seeing them.
Buzzards do eat rabbits and they do also feed on carrion.
Has anyone thought that the reason that the carrion eaters are surviving in numbers is due to the carrion that we as humans are providing them.
I do not know the exact figures but I do know that the number and widths of roads has increased since my childhood to adulthood. There has also been a huge increase on the traffic on the roads. Not just in towns but the country roads too.
Improved engines, increases in road speed ( and handling) coupled with quieter cars means that animals on the roads ( or verges) are more at risk now than they ever were. Add to this more vehicles on the roads and you can see the developing picture.
It would be interesting if anyone has ever conducted an average annual tonnage of road kill per year in the UK. Wild birds and animals as well as pets and livestock.
I would put my life on this to say that there is more roadkill now in the UK than there was say in the 1970's and even the 80's!
This roadkill is part of what is feeding the animals and birds that eat carrion as part of their diets.
Human intervention yet again. We have fuelled the problem and now we are trying to kill the animals to sort an issue that we have helped to create in the first place. It always the animals that get it though isn't it. We never tackle the real issues though do we like too many cars, too many humans in the UK and the destruction of habitat for human gain?
If the killing of buzzards does go ahead then I can see this opening up the flood gates for requests to kill other birds of prey

Excellent post and agree 100%!

A lot of it was what I was trying to say but not clever enough to say it quite so well!

Re buzzards in semi-rural areas - I live in Tewkesbury, right in town and I see buzzards flying around here. The flood meadows provide the right habitat for them - no pheasants put out there!

 

[stencilface]

As an aside, I live near one of the places where red kites were released, they spread further each year it seems. This year is the first year I have seen them in a truly urban area, an area dominated by 'restaurants' and tens of takeway joints. I can only assume that the red kites have learnt the the curry and fried chicken waste is too good to miss

 

[EAST KENT]

Sparrow hawks are my hate,and of anyone with a loft of very expensive (thousands of pounds each bird) racing pigeons that has these pests lunching off their pride and joys.Bloody nuisance; mine were only ornamental doves,but that family I had had since 1970, we need the right to deal with the nuisance if it affects us.
Not many buzzards over this way,but with the population explosion of foxes our country ones need the rabbits to live off. Everything was fine before the bunny huggers interfered.

 

[Dobiegirl]

My brothers farm 500 acres, mostly cereals, over the last 15 yrs we have had a massive explosion of buzzards, my OH counted 33 in the field he was ploughing last year. We have ravens, sparrowhawks, kestrels, buzzards, magpies, jays, barn and tawny owls, you name it we have them! There is also a syndicate of shooters on the farm which puts down about 200 poults a year, have they had a problem with buzzards, no, roadkill yes. The shoot has also meant my brother has a real willingness to plant game cover etc which is a huge boost to other farmland birds which are generally in decline. We have exeter uni monitering the barn owls around the farm and they have had a major problem with the tawny's taking the chicks, neither owl box last year fledged chicks, they were all taken which was rather gutting.

I would say your brother has provided the perfect habitat for wildlife, Ravens are on the decline and confined to certain areas so your brother must be very pleased. Its a big shame about the Barn Owl chicks and Im sure the mortality from Tawny Owls is under estimated.

 

[Miss L Toe]

As an aside, I live near one of the places where red kites were released, they spread further each year it seems. This year is the first year I have seen them in a truly urban area, an area dominated by 'restaurants' and tens of takeway joints. I can only assume that the red kites have learnt the the curry and fried chicken waste is too good to miss

I can't "blame" foxes, red kites, or rats for taking the opportunity to eat the debris left lying around by the most evil, manipulative, and destructive species on the planet..... Homo Sapiens.