A Different Kind Of Vet
The Scots Magazine|November 2017

Polly Pullar meets a man dedicated to helping rare and “pest” species alike.

Polly Pullar
A Different Kind Of Vet

THE modern fox has become a city slicker,and though there are still plenty in the countryside, most of the foxes I see lie dead beside roads.

Foxes are either loved or loathed in equal measure. They have suffered a tireless onslaught of persecution for hundreds of years but now face new hazards in the urban environment.

Despite knowing only too well that they can cause havoc amongst poultry or take weak, injured and dead lambs, I continue to love them with undiminished passion. I often wonder if they were one of our rarest mammals on a par with the wildcat, would our historic cultural attitudes differ?

Now I stand looking down on a young vixen under anaesthetic on the operating table having her hind leg X-rayed. The vet views the images on the adjacent computer. The injury is healing well; soon she will be fit for release. Her glorious ginger pelt and neat paws, her sharp whiskery little face and black-tipped ears, add up to making her one of the most beautiful wild mammals of all. It’s time for a total change of attitude towards this adaptable survivor.

Every year the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and other wildlife rescue units around the country, receive hundreds of foxes, adding to the burgeoning numbers of wildlife casualties. The problem grows at a frightening rate as more roads, industrial development and intensive agriculture scar the landscape, and habitat loss pressurises creatures into detrimental, often fatal, contact with humans.

In June this year alone, the SSPCA’s state-of the-art wildlife hospital at Fishcross in Clackmannanshire received 2000 new patients. Annual numbers have risen steadily since they opened in 2012 following a £3.5million investment on the 26-hectare (65-acre) site. Last year they dealt with 9326 casualties.

この記事は The Scots Magazine の November 2017 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は The Scots Magazine の November 2017 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

THE SCOTS MAGAZINEのその他の記事すべて表示
Unst To Orbit
The Scots Magazine

Unst To Orbit

Shetland's spaceport is set to take Europe by storm, launching rockets to the stratosphere

time-read
3 分  |
November 2024
Just Passing Through
The Scots Magazine

Just Passing Through

A tale of the unexpected unfolds at dawn in a Stirlingshire glen as a rare, shy creature slips out of the shadows

time-read
5 分  |
November 2024
Brigadoon Revisited
The Scots Magazine

Brigadoon Revisited

An affectionate look back at the low budget \"synthetic Scotch\" movie that still sparkles in the mist, 70 years on

time-read
4 分  |
November 2024
A Brand New Opening
The Scots Magazine

A Brand New Opening

The Scots Magazine revisits the Old Course in St Andrews almost 70 years on and celebrates recent progress in welcoming women

time-read
2 分  |
November 2024
Kenmore's Crossroads
The Scots Magazine

Kenmore's Crossroads

Fury over a luxury redevelopment at the Perthshire village made news headlines around the world but is the tide of popular opinion turning?

time-read
6 分  |
November 2024
Seeing Double!
The Scots Magazine

Seeing Double!

Sam Heughan's Outlander body double, lain Wilkie, shares stories about his experiences on and off screen

time-read
3 分  |
November 2024
The Story & The Song
The Scots Magazine

The Story & The Song

With a soundtrack to a Shetland tale, author and musician Malachy Tallack blends his artistic passions in his latest venture

time-read
5 分  |
November 2024
A Rebirth From The Earth
The Scots Magazine

A Rebirth From The Earth

Erland Cooper's intriguing project has given nature and two determined fans a hand in shaping and bringing his new album to light

time-read
3 分  |
November 2024
Nip Of Champions
The Scots Magazine

Nip Of Champions

Whisky has long been associated with moments of triumph, including a recent example of clever sporting motivation

time-read
3 分  |
November 2024
The Waterside Hotel
The Scots Magazine

The Waterside Hotel

A spectacular spot on the stunning Ayrshire coast

time-read
2 分  |
November 2024