Dead Foxes on road - Number down?

stevoman

Has anyone noticed this year that the numbers of dead foxes on the roads is a lot less than in previous years? or maybe its just the area i am in. Im seeing a lot of dead badgers though. Has anyone else noticed a rise or fall in numbers locally or been keeping a watch out?

DiddyBiddy

I recently read an article about changes in roadkill numbers reflecting changes in the species population. Cant remember where I saw it but if I find it I'll post it. In the meantime...the NPWS does annual roadkill surveys. The public report when and where.
http://www.biology.ie/home.php?m=npws

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Generally it's belived that the number of Foxes killed on the road is higher than reported (although most rioad kill is not reported anyway!) as they often get thrown into or over ditches while the heavier Badger gets left at the side of the road. Others feel that the Fox is more agile and wary on the roads and avoids accidents easier than the Badger who just freezes in the headlights. That said over 400 Badger deaths reported this year and 300+ Foxes. Not great stats!!

stevoman

not great at all. i know a lot of badgers are on the move lately and due to a building of a motorway in the general region a lot of sets are being destroyed, this is in turn moving them on and bovibe TB in the region seems to have increased also as a result. i have seen a lot of them dead on the roads lately.

I was talking to a vet lately about hunting, and being a man who enjoys to hunt and fish myself we got into the debate about foxes etc. Personally i dont hunt them myself, as i would prefer to watch them, but his arguement was that enough foxes are culled annually by the roads alone and he was adament that hunting them should'nt be a big issue with hunters. He had some good points about it i have to say and it was an interesting chat.

gversey

Seen one on the side of the road yesterday on way from Killiney to Dalkey..

Birdnuts

The M7 near Newbridge appears to a real blackspot for Badger deaths in recent months:(. One again it raises the issue of a lack of regard to wildlife underpasses when it comes to road construction in this country. The NRA needs to seriously get the finger out here:mad:

CJhaughey

As the economy contracts there will be less road traffic, people are not travelling as much as they were.
Less traffic epecially at night/early morning would mean less animals encountering traffic= less roadkill.
Thats my theory anyway:)

Morganna

seem to b seeing more badgers up to know

magicbastarder

Kinley Breezy Vestibule wrote: »

That said over 400 Badger deaths reported this year and 300+ Foxes. Not great stats!!

does road building in ireland now have to include wildlife channels, e.g. tunnels under the road animals are funneled into?

i remember driving from blanchardstown to navan six years ago and counted six dead badgers on the N3 on the one journey.

stevoman

magicbastarder wrote: »

does road building in ireland now have to include wildlife channels, e.g. tunnels under the road animals are funneled into?

i remember driving from blanchardstown to navan six years ago and counted six dead badgers on the N3 on the one journey.

no it has been suggested, but to put it in simple terms, our county councils and authorities are blatently ignorant when it comes to that sort of thing.

a little off topic but the local council destroyed out river by cleaning it with a "dragline" that was never needed and destroyed the natural wildlife around it. it had gone so far that out local angling club had to hire an enviromental lawyer to get them to stop.

marlin vs

I came on 3 dead foxes yesterday morning, on thhe main Cork rd coming out of Killmeaden, 2 fine cub's killed next to each other, and then a full grown one about 5 miles further on. I saw one dead badger on the same stretch two weeks ago.

It wasn't me!

Cubs are going to be mobile about now, so probably the worst time of year for foxes on the roads. Not seen too many around me though, come to think of it, which is strange, because there are plenty of foxes there.