Persecution mania

It was of course unfortunate that those twins were mauled by some animal which was probably a fox, but the worst aspect was the media hysteria about it, which has played straight into the hands of those who are always on the lookout for something to hate and to persecute. The reaction to the alleged fox attack is an extreme example. Such an attack is so rare as to be insignificant compared with the number of attacks on children by dogs, for example. Foxes are timid around humans, generally get on well with cats, eats slugs, are highly photogenic and give many people in urban areas a lot of pleasure.

Grey squirrels are also a source of enjoyment for many people but are the object of fierce hatred by many others who have swallowed the guff about their being an introduced, therefore 'alien' species. After about 150 years, 'introduced species' is a meaningless concept. If you are so keen on the 'native' reds, go to other parts of Europe, where they abound. In some ways the greys can be pests, but then so can cats and dogs.

Badgers? About to be persecuted on very unscientific suspicion of spreading TB among cattle. Don't take my work for it that the 'evidence' is a load of bunkum - listen to people like Iolo Williams, Wales's most distinguished naturalist. During a rest on a recent nature walk led by Iolo, in which I took part, he made a speech defending both badgers and foxes. Get this: foxes do NOT take lambs, other than in exceptional circumstances.

Foxes, badgers, grey squirrels, feral pigeons, herring gulls, rhododendron, ivy, Himalayan balsam, Japanese knotweed - the list goes on and on. For something to persecute, stick to rats - they are unquestionably a bit inconvenient.