Jolyon Maugham should be prosecuted for killing a fox

[halocompanach]

Jolyon Maugham QC stating on twitter that he has clubbed to death a fox rather than calling for help to free it from netting in his garden.

I dont think he is very bright. This has amazed me taking into account his profession but his ability to even understand simple arguments is astounding.

@Binterested do people in London not have roses to cut back? No Holly? No Pyracanthus?

It's ridiculous to say something as daft as that. Most people with a garden have at least gardening gloves with leather reinforcement (which are enough for dealing with most animals, as you can cut the wire with pliers/anvil headed secateurs/wire cutters/scissors if you're a bit shit and only used chicken wire instead of proper livestock fencing, although to actually touch a wild animal, I'd use the gauntlets needed for the aforementioned greenery). And they certainly would have everything necessary if they kept animals in the garden.

I have gardening gloves. They are very far from being gauntlets and wouldn’t protect me from a fox.

He's rushed off into the garden with baseball bat - and wife's kimono, which seems to be a recurring theme - after a fox before. So he had ample time to correct any failures in his coop. It's not easy to kill an adult fox, even with a baseball bat. I live in the countryside where nobody is tender about animals and death. Nobody would kill a fox in this way.

YANBU. I hope he gets prosecuted.

He will argue that as it was trapped in the netting he didn’t think he could untangle it without being bitten.

On the contrary, he said he wanted it out of the way as soon as possible and that his chickens were distressed. He's said nothing about thinking he would be bitten and nothing about the welfare of the fox.

In the absence of a shotgun (and licence and sufficient experience and skill and a suitable environment to use it in) and a vet with euthanasia drugs would be 60+ minutes away (and perhaps want paying the maybe £180 emergency call out fee) what would those of you who think this is vile and inhumane, actually do?

Assuming it was relatively unhurt, would you fancy your chances against the teeth and jaws of a wild carnivore in severe distress and pain in trying to cut it free (and release it illegally)? I'd like to think I'd try that but if a fox is caught up in netting, the chances are that you're not getting it set free without sedating it - which I'd put money on vets wouldn't do having realisee you intended to release it (again, this is illegal).

It's likely injured. Who exactly is going to treat this wild and scared carnivore with the big teeth and no trust in humans?

It's more than likely severely injured and severely distressed. Are you going to make it wait an hour (could be more like three) in pain and distress and getting worse for a vet to come out, somehow get a needle into a vein (!!!???) and pay the best part of £200? If you're lucky and in rural countryside somebody might have a shotgun but they'd be say 45 minutes away.

If I were the fox, I'd pray either I could get myself out, or a human with either a gun or a heavy object and a good aim made it quick for me. Rather that than wait in pain and distress.

It's not pretty - death usually isn't, particularly not with wildlife. It was quite likely the most humane way that was available quickly at the time.

I read the tone of his tweet as more "fml, my day is going just bloody great, I've just had to dispatch a wild animal who was trapped in netting, horrible job to have to do mutter mumble grumble".

I think the only thing he is guilty of is being a twit not realising it was a bad idea to tweet about it.

It's legal to kill a fox trapped in a trap or snare

www.gov.uk/guidance/foxes-moles-and-mink-how-to-protect-your-property-from-damage

It has to be done humanely.

How would people kill a fox humanely?

I think the only thing he is guilty of is being a twit not realising it was a bad idea to tweet about it

This. Especially because he has a lot of followers.

Ironically, a number of people who have an issue with him over Brexit are probably the kind of people who would happily hunt foxes with dogs.

@Binterested You need the same ones I got from Amazon for a fiver, then. They've been perfectly adequate for animal extraction, even though I only bought them for dealing with the climbing roses.

Most people with a garden have at least gardening gloves with leather reinforcement (which are enough for dealing with most animals

Go on then, you first. I'm sure that layer of leather in your gardening gloves will be an adequate barrier to a wild and distressed animal who eats animal hide and flesh for survival. And I'm sure they won't in their struggle try to bite or scratch you anywhere other than your hands.

Hopefully the queues at A&E won't be too long.

It's not illegal to release foxes, unless you're releasing them non-humanely, e.g. urban foxes in a rural habitat.

You're thinking of grey squirrels, which are classified as a non-native species. Foxes are a native species.

On the contrary, he said he wanted it out of the way as soon as possible and that his chickens were distressed. He's said nothing about thinking he would be bitten and nothing about the welfare of the fox.

Not yet. But I’d put money on him changing the emphasis of his thoughts if the police start interviewing him.

@TheLittleBrownFox.

Been there, done that. Multiple times at home and at work. That's how I know they're adequate.

Including, by the way, releasing a fox trapped in cheap shit fencing.

This, from an animal charity based in Kent, is quite useful. They specialise in foxes.

foxproject.org.uk/foxes-and-the-law/

By the way, should anyone in SE London run into this situation for themselves in the morning, perhaps check if anyone is on call here, before you get the baseball bat out:

The Wildlife Ambulance Service – 01892 731565 (9.00am – 9.00pm) operates over a 60 x 70 mile range over parts of Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex and South East London, dealing with sick and injured foxes and abandoned fox cubs and working with a large team of local volunteer rescuers, fosterers and rehabbers to provide for their care, treatment and rehabilitation back into the wild. Our policy, in line with those of ‘trade’ associations such as British Wildlife Rehabilitation Council, the majority of associated rescue groups and – most certainly – UK wildlife laws, is for recovered adult animals to be returned to their home territory and incorporates a programme of controlled rehabilitation of hand-raised fox cubs re-entering the wild in association and with the involvement of sympathetic farmers, smallholders and rural landowners.

(and perhaps want paying the maybe £180 emergency call out fee)

He's a QC, as far as I know he's not on minimum wage.

As for a gun, he shoots rabbits so presumably has a licence to use a gun.

I’d try a lot of things before I felt desperate enough to club a fox to death.

I’d try chucking a thick blanket over its head and untangling it. I’d try gardening gloves. I’d try ringing a friend who runs a wildlife rescue. I’d try ringing anyone. I’d use a stick from a distance and try to untangle it. I’d try, not saying all that would work but I’d give it a go.

I helped rescue a badger in a similar predicament once and me and a friend managed. And they’ve got a much worse bite than a fox as well as crazy sharp claws.

Looks like he makes a habit of killing foxes with a baseball bat while dressed in his wife's kimono.

Based on that earlier tweet I’m now thinking that this never happened. It’s just some weird fantasy he has in his head.

Either way he loses big on this - he’s either appalling, or just incredibly weird.

Nice to see the RSPCA have changed their policy.
We rang them a few years ago for advice re a fox that was stick in our fence and they told us to find a local farmer who could SHOOT it for us.
We havent donated to them since.
(We eventually managed to free it with secateurs while wearing full motorbike leathers).

He tried to club to death Brexit but failed - to his cost.

A man prone to piques / antagonisms, rather than wisdom.

The "ladies" of Mumsnet have spied a chance to have a go at a posh man and are having a field day.

The circumstances are irrelevant. This is just an orgy of man hating and reverse snobbery.

Not a good look.

Looks like he makes a habit of killing foxes with a baseball bat

Except there was no fox in your example.

Go on then, you first. I'm sure that layer of leather in your gardening gloves will be an adequate barrier to a wild and distressed animal who eats animal hide and flesh for survival. And I'm sure they won't in their struggle try to bite or scratch you anywhere other than your hands.

I’d do it,. I mentioned earlier that we rescued plenty of trapped injured wild animals, when I was growing up in the country. At least I wouldn’t be worrying so much about rabies here! Suspect if I know how to rescue a trapped porcupine, I can manage a fox.

Ironically, a number of people who have an issue with him over Brexit are probably the kind of people who would happily hunt foxes with dogs

Whereas, I completely agree with him about Brexit. Not about women's rights or the acceptability of battering foxes to death. It is unusual to agree with people on every aspect of their political views.