Foot-and-Mouth crisis: Hedgehogs and deer face cull to contain

GOVERNMENT VETS are preparing for a widespread cull of wild animals in the latest desperate attempt to contain the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

Animal protection groups warned of the nightmare scenario of specialist marksmen roaming the countryside if a risk assessment favoured the slaughter of animals capable of passing on the infection.

The study, which is being done by government vets, is believed to focus on animals most susceptible to the disease, including wild pigs, hedgehogs, stray sheep and deer. But it is also expected to look at animals that could come into contact with infected farm animals and transmit foot-and- mouth to other sites, such as foxes and even birds.

Also at risk of a possible cull are herds of deer spotted gathered close to an infected site or escaped pigs, known to be important carriers of viruses. Britain's chief veterinary officer, Jim Scudamore, said yesterday: "The advice is that we deal with the main risks and with the susceptible species."

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food said a "blanket slaughter" was not being considered. "It's not our place or desire to instigate a mass slaughter of British wildlife," said a spokesman.

The RSPCA was among the wildlife bodies concerned at the possibility of a widespread slaughter. The organisation said the last big outbreak of foot-and-mouth, some 33 years ago, had been contained without a major cull, but accepted that the latest cases were more widespread than before.

More than 25,000 animals from confirmed sites, the majority of those sheep, have already been slaughtered but the possibility of a wildlife cull raised fears of a considerably higher toll.

The British Veterinary Association said wild boar and escaped pigs presented a threat to efforts to contain foot-and-mouth. It warned that trying to work out how many pigs were running wild could potentially backfire and lead to an increased likelihood of spreading the disease. A similar exercise was organised last year during the East Anglia swine fever outbreak to find any wild boar in the county.

A former president, Keith Baker, said: "The last thing you need is people trampling around trying to do an assessment. Any wild boar, definitely, get rid of them. But you have to track them and this is where the balance has to be struck.

"What's more of a risk? Leaving a few pigs in one area or a few people stalking them across farmland?"

Attempts to further extend any cull would lead to logistical problems and fierce opposition from conservation groups. Any attempt to kill badgers and "we would have a riot on our hands", Mr Baker said.

Wildlife protection groups and vets cast doubt on the feasibility of a widespread culling operation. They said no outbreaks so far appeared to have been linked with wildlife.

The RSPCA was concerned that experts involved in the cull could spread the disease on their clothing or disturb settled groups of animals during a cull and send them further afield.

Colin Booty, senior scientific officer for the RSPCA, said: "We don't think the current evidence would justify a major cull of wildlife. It they were to undertake it, it may well make matters worse."

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said any slaughter of birds would be impossible because of the huge numbers that make their homes on farmland. "The breeding population of birds on farmland is in the millions. If you include birds like starlings, lapwings and gulls, we would be talking about a slaughter that would be unprecedented," said a spokesman, Grahame Madge. "If that was a serious option, that would be a nightmare scenario."

Mr Scudamore said all but a couple of the confirmed outbreaks had been linked to others elsewhere. Otherwise, the disease had spread on the wind. He expected more cases to come to light next week, most likely to be linked with animal movements before the ban brought in last Friday.

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