The Welsh Farmers Fox Control Association

Cymdeithas Ffermwry Cymru i Reoli Llwynogod

This Association was formed in 1978 to represent the Welsh farmers who were hunting with packs of hounds but largely without horses. It currently represents over 30 packs, mainly in upland Wales.

2. Principle Aims

a. To see that foxhunting by footpacks be safe-guarded as the most effective, efficient and humane way of controlling foxes in the livestock farming areas, by the use of purpose bred hounds and experienced guns.

b. To inform and educate the general public as to why it is essential to control the fox population.

c. To control but not to exterminate the fox population.

d. To lobby and inform political opinion.

e. To liaise with government bodies and environmental groups having an interest in the welfare of the countryside.

3. Relationship to MFHA and BFSS

The WWFCA is quite separate and distinctive to the MFHA in so far as the WWFCA represents packs without horses.

While many members of WWFCA are also members of BFSS, there is no formal link between the two organisations.

4. Why Fox Hunting in Upland Wales is Different

The terrain of upland Wales does not resemble the plains of the shire counties. There has been a very great increase in forestry in Wales since the 1950s, (much of it in blocks of 10,000 - 30,000 acres) and the rest of upland Wales is renowned for its harsh mountains. (There are some mounted packs in the lowland parts of Wales, not covered by the WWFCA and not covered in this submission.)

Much of the upland Welsh economy is based on sheep farming and therefore the hunting of the fox in Wales is not a sport but a necessary job of vermin control.

Hunting in the forests and mountains of Wales is not a social event as in other parts of the UK, rather a group of neighbours helping each other out.

A hunt programme is arranged, mainly for the autumn, and followed. At lambing time however the Chairman (organiser) will often receive a telephone call from a neighbouring farmer who has suffered fox damage. The Chairman will phone round and a group of local farmers will assist the huntsman for as long as is necessary to account for the fox. This is carried out on mainly foot with the hunt followers bringing shotguns, terriers or spades. In forestry areas a point may be up to 8 miles and a hunt may have one or two mounted men, whose role is to keep up with the hounds and liaise with the foot followers.

6. Fox Figures

Figures 1983 - 1996 from just four packs are attached. These show a gradual and largely sustained increase in the number of foxes accounted for year by year. Over the 13 years in question, these four packs accounted for a total of 9802 foxes.

Pack numbers have increased to ensure. the control of the fox. There is now a total of 30 packs in Wales.

It is estimated that 85% of foxes killed by WWFCA hunts are shot above ground by the followers carrying shotguns. Terriers with radio collars are sent to those foxes gone to ground - these foxes, and those marked to ground and humanely shot, account for the remaining 15%.

WWFCA are not saying that all foxes should be exterminated, but that they must be controlled to a level where they are not causing problems.

7. Effect on the Countryside of the Growth of the Fox Population in Forested Areas

The vast forests present excellent conditions for growth in the fox population, so much so that the loss of wildlife in the forests has been dramatic and the foxes have to move out to satisfy their appetites. A fox prefers a "hot" meal and research by the Countryside Council for Wales has shown a dramatic decrease in moorland birds.

Terrierwork is essential to fox hunting in Wales. Just as the trained foxhound is the dog which is capable of helping to control the fox above ground, so the terrier does the necessary work below ground. Once a fox is marked to ground it is essential to the sheep farmer that it is eradicated.

If hunting were banned for even 12 months, gaining back that ground would take many many years. If 50% of the foxes killed annually by the WWFCA packs were vixens, and they had each had 5 - 7 cubs each year, the dramatic increase in fox population would inflict catastrophic damage to the forests and moorlands and force more foxes to urban areas. If the fox population were to "find its level", as some people suggest, that would devastate not only the Welsh sheep farming economy but also the Welsh countryside.

The already great increase in urban foxes must not be allowed to escalate. When hungry urban foxes return to the countryside for food, and they are pointed by the hounds, they run straight back to the towns and villages. The hounds that follow them are placed in danger, and a great deal of upset and misunderstanding is caused among the disturbed residents.

Some landowners, such as the National Trust and the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust issue annual licences. These are successful in that they allow for specific actions with regard to fox control on their specific areas of land.

Where licences have to be applied for on an ad hoc basis, however, they are not successful as any delay at all is too great. Members of the WWFCA need to be able to react instantaneously to fox damage, especially at lambing time.

12. Conclusion

The WWFCA is a body of sheep farmers, unmounted, who care not only for the well-being of their stock but also for the Welsh countryside as a whole. They feel most strongly that the importance of their work in essential fox control is fundamental not only to the economic future of upland Wales but also to the welfare of their unique countryside.

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Date uploaded to site 24 May 2000