How a Drone Is Helping Protect Wildlife from Hunts in the Moors

Our Equipment Fund is here to help...

Two years ago we launched “The Protect the Wild Equipment Fund’, saying that it would provide equipment to individuals or groups who are working as ‘eyes in the field’ to tackle wildlife crime and protect wildlife.

Our first purchase was radios for the excellent Cheshire Borderland Monitors, who wrote in a blog for us that the radios would enable them to stay in touch with each other on the ground, monitoring hunts, and ultimately protecting the wild.

The following week we sent recording equipment to the Helmsley Monitors, a small group of independent monitors who cover north east Yorkshire. We wrote at the time that the monitors were “especially watching over the numerous hunting packs that range over the North York Moors National Park. That’s right, there are fox and hare hunting packs operating INSIDE one of our most beautiful national parks!”

We’ve been in touch with the Helmsley Monitors ever since! They have greatly influenced our thinking - in fact, only last week Protect the Wild posted “North York Moors National Park - NOT a safe place for wildlife”, in which we listed a number of businesses that support the massive amount of hunting and shooting that takes place within the national park. Our knowledge of what takes place in NYMNP has its roots in conversations with the wonderful monitors that took place two years ago…

A few weeks ago the team contacted us again. They told us that over the last four years they had gathered information about hunting inside the park, but now wanted to finish off a particular hunt they had been observing. They required a drone to help shut them down. Could we help?

A drone is a big commitment. They are not cheap and they require a skilled operator to both stay within the law and not have the drone stolen (which has happened a number of times now). But we also know that our supporters approve of us using their money to help groups obtain drones. Unsurprising when footage has proved so useful in the past…see, for example, “South Durham Hunt: yet another hunt recorded breaking the law”.

Helmsley Monitors have their drone now, and while they’ve not had the opportunity to take it into the field much yet, they wanted to explain why they need it and to say thanks!

A vital piece of equipment

For many years, thousands of people from all walks of life and all over the world have stood in awe and admired the wild beauty of the North Yorkshire Moors. In 1952 they were given the status of a National Park. The authority in charge of overseeing this vast area main objective is to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area. The area is diverse with large areas of heather moorland, traditional farmland and woodland. It will however be a surprise to many that those untamed hills, valleys and sweeping moors hold a dirty secret. The wildlife that should live in peace in this haven are under threat from the barbaric sport of hunting.

In 2004 the ineffective Hunting Act was passed through Parliament. We call it ineffective as the government included so many loopholes that there have been few prosecutions. The term ‘trail hunting’ was adopted for the pursuit of foxes by a pack of hounds.

Numerous hunts are based in the North Yorkshire National Park and along with foxes, hares and deer fall prey to the hounds. Badgers are dug up and their setts blocked to prevent foxes ‘going to earth’. The badgers themselves either suffocate or could be used in the cruel sport of badger baiting. Beagle packs chosen quarry are hares who although faster finally succumb to the beagles’ stamina.

Along with these illegal activities shooting is a major money maker for landowners in National Parks. Thousands of pheasants and grouse are blasted from the sky under the guise of sport. Locals reap the benefits of this senseless slaughter. Gamekeepers are paid to set Fenn traps to eradicate any threat to their coffers. Stoats, weasels, foxes and many other unfortunate creatures are being caught in snares and traps. Birds of prey shot or poisoned on large shooting estates have little hope of justice.

Our small group of volunteers in North Yorkshire have witnessed first hand illegal activities. Local hunts relentlessly pursuing foxes, encouraging hounds on to the scent of a vixen or dog fox, burring to flush their victims from cover. Riders sat on point, turning the quarry to awaiting jaws. Beagle packs hidden away far onto the moors chasing down hares. Our beautiful, threatened wildlife fearing a dreadful fate.

With the help of Protect The Wild we have been gifted a vital piece of equipment to enable us to gather evidence of any illegal activities. We aim to build a picture of what really happens away from the prying eyes of the public and the law.

Hopefully then the National Parks will tighten up the rules.

That’s an aim many of us will get behind. If you’d like to urge the park authorities to ‘tighten the rules’ and kick these hunts out of the national park:

• Telephone: 01439 772700

• Email: general@northyorkmoors.org.uk

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We are proud that we’ve been able to help the Helmsley Monitors through our Equipment Fund.

But this is not just a fund for equipment. Every contribution goes directly into protecting wildlife by supporting activists in the field in multiple ways. It pays for the radios, camcorders and drones that keep eyes on hunts and other wildlife abusers. It funds undercover operations that expose cruelty hidden from the public. And it ensures frontline activists have access to free mental health support so they can keep going in what is often a relentless and emotionally draining fight.

Every single pound is ring fenced and used for this work alone. It fuels the people and the tools that make a real difference for foxes, badgers, birds and all the other wildlife targeted by abusers.

If you want to be part of this fight, please chip in a few pounds each month. Together we can give activists the strength, the resources and the support they need to protect wildlife and hold these cowards to account.

• If you’re an individual or organisation working in the field and would like our support, please get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.