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Hen harrier hawks face extinction
Only one pair of hen harriers remains in England

It is thought that only one breeding pair of hen harriers now remains in England due to illegal hunting, making the bird near extinct in this country.

Grahame Madge from the RSPB blames illegal persecution, calling Yorkshire a “black spot” for British birds of prey. Recent results of scientific tests on a ringed hen harrier found in the Yorkshire Dales have suggested illegal shooting. “Traces of lead in the bird's leg” Madge says, suggests she was illegally shot, providing 'evidence that there is deliberate, illegal persecution of our birds of prey going on.” Madge says that hen harriers are not the only example of birds of prey being illegally killed or trapped.

Charles Nodder of the National Gamekeepers Association says such activity is uncommon but acknowledges:

"There is some persecution of birds of prey and very regrettably some of it is done by gamekeepers. We condemn it.”

These birds are more common across the border with Scotland, though it is thought numbers are still 13% lower than they would be without human interference. In Orkney however, numbers are currently at a 10-year high, with 100 females producing 100 chicks last year due to the successful tactic of reducing numbers of sheep grazing in their habitat.

Adrian Blackmore of Countryside Alliance suggests that other factors alongside illegal hunting are to blame for the hen harriers near extinction in England. They are he says:

"Susceptible to bad weather, disturbance, poor habitat and lack of available food, as well as factors that are as yet still unclear, as is the case on the Isle of Man, where the RSPB's 2010 Hen Harrier Survey found that the population had halved for reasons that remain unknown."

Blackmore also asserts that hen harriers are no more successful in areas that are not managed for grouse shooting.

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RUMA CA&E extends survey deadline

News Story 1
 RUMA CA&E has extended the deadline for its online survey into vaccine availability.

Vets, SQPs, retailers and wholesalers will now have until Friday, 26 September at 5pm to submit their response.

The survey aims to further understanding into the vaccine supply challenges faced by the sector. It will also consider the short and long term impacts of disruption issues.

Insights are anonymous, and will be shared with industry stakeholders and government bodies.

The survey can be accessed here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA publishes Guide to Nutrition in Small Animal Practice

The BSAVA has added a small animal nutrition advice booklet to its series of BSAVA guides.

The BSAVA Guide to Nutrition in Small Animal Practice offers a resource for veterinary professionals to provide appropriate nutrition for animals. As well as maintaining the wellbeing of healthy pets, the guide explores how nutritional requirements change in times of illness and disease.

The guide is divided into five sections, which explore the importance of nutritional assessment; diet types; feeding at different life stages; feeding for specific situations; and feeding for specific diseases. Online resources are also in the BSAVA Library including client handouts and videos.

It is designed to be suitable for referencing, in-depth case planning and team training sessions.

The BSAVA Guide to Nutrition in Small Animal Practice can be purchased online from the BSAVA store.