Grumpy Santa said:Let's say people eradicate foxes because chickens.
Let's not, because.... who said that? I certainly didn't, in fact I've stated the opposite.
Grumpy Santa said:it would seem to be to be worth the effort to indeed separate the fox from the easy prey (rabbits, lambs) so they'll get back to work controlling the rabbits which they should be focused on in the first place.
Ok, cool. So, how do we go about that insurmountable task? What do you want to do? Drop a strongly worded leaflet into every fox hole? Seriously dude - I'm all ears.
Grumpy Santa said:You're already seeing what happens to the rabbit population when they're not adequately hunted after all, why make it worse.]
Yes, we are seeing that, so can't we apply the same logic to foxes? After all - they DON'T have a natural predator whereas rabbits DO... you're almost helping make my case here.
Grumpy Santa said:Instead of saying you can't make a fox-proof hen house how about making fox-proof hen houses instead.
Firstly, I didn't say it was impossible, I alluded to it being impractical and surprisingly difficult. Both of which are the case.
Grumpy Santa said:Foxes aren't the only clever species in the UK, are they? It may cost more, but in the long run you wind up protecting not only the livestock but also the crops in the fields that the rabbits threaten.
No, they aren't - that's why they're looking down the dangerous end of the rifle rather than the scope.
Are you saying that the answer to the rabbit problem is to increase the fox population? What about the fact that foxes only go for rabbits as a last resort when there are no easier meals available? Lambs? Chickens? I'll refrain from crude analogies although I'm tempted... You don't relieve one problem by increasing the intensity of another.
Grumpy Santa said:If all the foxes were gone, then what?
Again, I didn't advocate for that so I'm not sure why you keep proposing it as a hypothetical when I've explicitly stated that isn't something I'd like to see.
Grumpy Santa said:Consider the species that prey on them, if any.
Yes! Ok let's consider them! What are they? Ah yes, there aren't any, as I've already pointed out.