27/07/2005
I turn my fury...
and my contempt, from those misguided folk who liberated mink into our countryside to decimate our local wildlife, to the government agency who sent me their...
'Rural Development Service Technical Advice Note 02'
You can tell before I start to vent my spleen, from the title of this piece of rubbish alone, I am pretty damn furious.
OK, now let me see, what do they advise me to do...?
First suggestion: Flush out with 2 dogs (not my dogs, thank you very much!)... providing the wild mammal is shot as soon as possible after is is flushed from cover...
After you, Mr/Mrs/Ms Jobsworthy. Oh, and who is going to hold the dogs back, or prevent the mink from attacking them?
Second suggestion: Trap them.
OK then, how many traps should I set, since the same leaflet also tells me mink set up several dens?
And when I catch one, what then... Oh, no, wait a minute, there's a suggestion for that too... I shoot it (helpless, and at close range- perfect, why didn't I as an animal lover think of that one)
Perhaps I could use two bricks to cave its head in?
Or perhaps I could apply, as the leaflet suggests to DEFRA- the grand-sounding Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs... except the woman sounded like a scared rabbit, and the man I spoke too passed me on to another wildlife 'expert'
Excuse me, but we have people to get rid of ants, wasps and rats... they come round to your house and do a very good job.
What about mink?
And if there's anyone out there responsible for freeing minks, or thinks that it is right to do so- come and hear how quiet it is in my part of the countryside sometime, then perhaps you'll understand what you've done.
Rant over.
If you want to know what I think should be done... let those who set the mink free be responsible for catching them and transporting them back to their country of origin where the mink can live happily with natural predators to keep a lid on their population.
Perhaps the equally nauseating 'farms' where these creatures are penned up can stump up some of the cash to make this possible...
Now you know why I'm a writer- I always was a dreamer.
Love to all, and happy reading everyone!
Susan
PS And on an entirely lighter note... don't forget to enter my weekly competition to celebrate the 1# position on Barnes & Noble Harlequin Presents top ten for The Sheikh's Captive Bride
And don't forget the competition to win the Murano glass heart from Venice is open until the end of August!!!
Good luck everyone!
Love Susan
pps Love to all my wonderful friends in Reno at the Romantic Writers of America national conference, which starts today. You don't know how much I wish I could be there with you all!
Have a wonderful time, everyone!
Susan
'Rural Development Service Technical Advice Note 02'
You can tell before I start to vent my spleen, from the title of this piece of rubbish alone, I am pretty damn furious.
OK, now let me see, what do they advise me to do...?
First suggestion: Flush out with 2 dogs (not my dogs, thank you very much!)... providing the wild mammal is shot as soon as possible after is is flushed from cover...
After you, Mr/Mrs/Ms Jobsworthy. Oh, and who is going to hold the dogs back, or prevent the mink from attacking them?
Second suggestion: Trap them.
OK then, how many traps should I set, since the same leaflet also tells me mink set up several dens?
And when I catch one, what then... Oh, no, wait a minute, there's a suggestion for that too... I shoot it (helpless, and at close range- perfect, why didn't I as an animal lover think of that one)
Perhaps I could use two bricks to cave its head in?
Or perhaps I could apply, as the leaflet suggests to DEFRA- the grand-sounding Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs... except the woman sounded like a scared rabbit, and the man I spoke too passed me on to another wildlife 'expert'
Excuse me, but we have people to get rid of ants, wasps and rats... they come round to your house and do a very good job.
What about mink?
And if there's anyone out there responsible for freeing minks, or thinks that it is right to do so- come and hear how quiet it is in my part of the countryside sometime, then perhaps you'll understand what you've done.
Rant over.
If you want to know what I think should be done... let those who set the mink free be responsible for catching them and transporting them back to their country of origin where the mink can live happily with natural predators to keep a lid on their population.
Perhaps the equally nauseating 'farms' where these creatures are penned up can stump up some of the cash to make this possible...
Now you know why I'm a writer- I always was a dreamer.
Love to all, and happy reading everyone!
Susan
PS And on an entirely lighter note... don't forget to enter my weekly competition to celebrate the 1# position on Barnes & Noble Harlequin Presents top ten for The Sheikh's Captive Bride
And don't forget the competition to win the Murano glass heart from Venice is open until the end of August!!!
Good luck everyone!
Love Susan
pps Love to all my wonderful friends in Reno at the Romantic Writers of America national conference, which starts today. You don't know how much I wish I could be there with you all!
Have a wonderful time, everyone!
Susan
