Lead poisons '100,000 birds annually'

[Rhiannon]

Wire mesh fencing, mesh cages, electric fencing (good for deer). Encourage foxes and other natural predators and the balance will be found. Because the completely unsentimental, un-fluffy-bunny farmer here doesn't shoot rabbits, yet his crops are fine.

[BashfulAnthony]

Well years ago, the balance was maintained by the game keepers.

They used snares and gin traps.

If you have livestock foxes are an issue.

Natures balance for the wildlife is cruel and seems to work by being fruitful one year lots of young, and then culling them by starvation when the going isn't good.

Natures balance is basically cruel, a slow death when food is short.

Before they had shotguns people were more likely to have starved along with the wildlife in a bad winter.

Although modern life protects us from the reality of the harshness of nature, we can't afford to allow wildlife to reach unsupportable numbers.

Deer for example are becoming a problem in some places, when there are too many, they all suffer.

Most of our wild places are not really wild places, because they have been managed by landowners who have maintained a balance of sorts.

I don't think there are any places in the UK that are natural, where nature is left to find a balance.

The. balance has changed because we have changed the rules and some of our wildlife has suffered as a result.

Look at all the species of birds that are becoming rare and have been in decline since other species are no longer kept down by man.

 

The balance was maintained by people, now this has changed and is considered politically incorrect, many of our most loved species are in decline.

You can't chang...

Just one point, as I have personal experience:  I kept ducks for many years, and foxes were a constant danger, at night anyway.  So I kept them in a concrete enclosure, and they were safe.  It shouldn't be beyond the wit of anyone to keep their animals safe: as long as they care enough.