chris pp

I don't know the product Carbonyle but sounds interesting - well worth looking into and giving a try although I am always wary of too many chemicals around the place if they can be avoided - thanks John for the info,    Chris

They can multiply quite rapidly and it may be as well to deal with the situation. Ragondin should be trapped in a "proper trap" and humanly shot, there is no other satisfactory method. They are an introduced species and cause serious problems for native species. Your local Marie will suggest poison, this is a really bad idea - please on no account use poisons as these cause problems for non target species and build up in the food matrix. You can contact Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage.  The link is to the main site but you should have a Departmental Office who should be able to advise. http://www.oncfs.gouv.fr/ Tricky I know, I like life!  Best Chris.

Are you sure that they are polecats and not marten?  Anyway the best people to contact, if it is a problem, who should deal with the situation in the best way are Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage. Please on no account use poisons as these cause problems for non target species such as Barn Owls. The link is to the main site but you should have a Departmental Office.  http://www.oncfs.gouv.fr/ Hope that this helps. Chris

John - You can't use creosote -  SUR. L'ARRETE DU 2 JUIN 2003. L'arrêté du 2 juin 2003 renforce la législation française relative à la ... par les résultats d'une étude concluant que. la créosote a un pouvoir cancérigène.    Same applies in the UK, before that date, I think.    The traps work well with walnuts.        Chris

This UK link gives a bit of info. http://www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th1l.htm Chris

They are amazingly timid, they just sit there and look at you, it's hard to imagine that they don't all get eaten by predators. Our cats kill one from time to time but don't eat them, which seems rather strange as they eat just about anything else they can catch.  Don't think there is much else you can do, interesting idea about the chlorine tablets - a strong smell may deter them - noise certainly doesn't in our house.  Good luck, Chris

Although most people are aware that this year has seen little rainfall and that throughout Poitou-Charentes water restrictions are in place not everyone will be fully aware of the bigger picture. Even without the reduced amounts of rainfall for the last 12 months we have seen a continual reduction over the last 15 to 20 years in water table levels. This has mainly come about as a result of modern agricultural methods which have resulted in 80% of the entire water production, including industrial and domestic, being used for irrigation. The main “consumer”, with an incredible 60% of all water used, is the Maize crop.   Please click on the link for more and a petition that you can print, fill in and post.   http://www.planetepassion.com/about_petition.htm   Thanks Chris.

There is no requirement under "Chasse Interdite" to fence of the land. There is a requirement to put signs up along the perimeter every 50 meters, these signs can be purchased quite cheaply. Best, Chris

Di / Iceni - The thread has nothing about not liking hunting, just a few news items!   Sorry.   Chris

Another hunter killed (well sort of). Sunday 18th Sept in Corrèze. A stag charged a hunter, the president of the local society for the chasse who then died of a heart attack. The stag, after charging some of the other hunters, fled and escaped in the ensuing confusion. On behalf of the Captain of the Gendarmourie a spokesperson said "In this case the affair is clear, because there is no suspicion as there is in most hunting incidents when a shot has been fired. Hmmm, Chris

It depends what type of organisations Hoddy - all the associations that I have on my links pages for conservation, wildlife,  animal welfare & rescue I consider to be reputable as far as I can tell.    For the record I am a member of the following associations:   LPO,   Vienne Nature, WWF France,  ASPAS,  SPA.   Indirectly I am associated with Poitou-Charentes Nature and France Nature & Environnement. I wish I could post the latest list I recieved today of all the recent legal actions taken by ASPAS for infractions of the law. Many concern killing protected species - Eagles, Owls etc. Hunting out of season. Using prohibited means to kill or capture - and a real classic - using a bulldozer to make a track for hunters 4x4's THROUGH A REGISTERED REFUGE. Incidents of a similar nature occur everywhere, there are continuing problems in the UK with the destruction of birds of prey, dog fighting and cock fighting. None of these illegal activities will cease overnight, but if everyone stays silent they will never change. The laws on hunting in France are probably the most liberal in Europe, there should be no need or excuse for anyone to break them. Best,  Chris

First the people who police hunters are Office de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, I have spoken to our departmental office previously and they are categoric, if you have a problem - call them! Ours is en permanence 24/24  7/7  They also take a dim view of law breakers and they are mainly made up from hunters! Link    http://www.oncfs.gouv.fr/ DeimosDeimos | (controlling ragondin) The local hunters were also called in to kill florida turtles in Dordogne in september which were completely destroying the habitat etc for the indigenous species, - a very useful function (the turtles having been introduced some years back to ornament someones lake). DebraA64 As far as I know Dordogne is under Law Verdaille.  Very simply I would keep my children & myself out of the woods during the hunting season, I think the ONCFS site gives the numbers of killed and injured for each year, people that is, not creatures. Chris.DebraA64 | 

Anything like this: http://www.planetepassion.com/lacerta_monticola.jpg Chris

Problem with the Fire Salamander is that in France to the best of my understanding it is always marked with shades of yellow or orange.  Lézard ocellé Lacerta lepida is a possibility - but a lot depends on location.   Chris

Bit of a tricky description, can you give a bit more information, where are you located, type of surrounding geographical habitat, water nearby or not, thick tail or thin tail or anything else you can think of?  Chris

As I understand it residency is now based on filling in a tax declaration - no tax declaration and you are not resident, it's as simple or as complicated as that.    Chris.

I think that just about says it all Ian, that has been my experience as well for the last 10 years in France - every snake is a "viper" and must be killed. In fact where I live the impression given by most of the local rural population is that almost every living creature is a danger of one sort or another and should be killed. This summer I actually came across two older French women busy killing Stag beetles because "they are bad". That was one of the reasons for the snake pages, to at least give English speakers the chance to understand and identify the snakes in France. The truth is that adders are on average small snakes and are not that common in most places and bites are extremely rare!   Chris

Or you can look at Snakes of France on our site - pictures and full fact sheets for all species found in France.    Best, Chris

There was a reintroduction of the European beaver back in the 80's in the Loire and since that time it has been spreading its range quite successfully. It is present in the Vendee.    Evidence of its presence is often found without actual sightings being made especially pieces of wood chewed in a characteristic manner, but as already been said it could have been a coypu - no shortage of them as we all know only too well! Muskrat is another possibility although a fair bit smaller. Best, Chris

You will find Red squirrels everywhere in France except Corsica, in fact they can be found right across Europe and northern Asia all the way to Japan, Southern Ireland too I believe has reasonable populations. No Grey squirrels in France and I really do hope that no bright spark takes it into their head to bring any over, if they get into mainland Europe there will be no stopping them! I have only seen one badger since being in France and that was crossing the road when I was driving home late one night, it's an animal I would have expected to see more often - or hear about someone having them near their garden.  Chris  

La protection de l'environnement, parent pauvre du budget de l'Etat français. Yesterday Nelly Olin announced the budget for the Ministry of Ecology, 896 million euros or 0.3% of the total French expenditure. This actually represents a net decline of 0.75%.    One quarter of this, 237 million euros is for Nuclear research, a contentious industry, as France, along with others , still does not know what to do with the waste.  The associations for the environment will have their funding reduced by 10% for 2005/2006 and by 20% for 2006/2007. One area which will be given priority is to put in place the remaining Natura2000 sites, which France has so far failed to complete and is liable to be fined by the EU if it does not do so by April 2006. I could almost find myself feeling sorry for Mme Olin if I thought she really had an interest in the environment, little she has done so far since becoming Minister gives that impression. Chris

You two are worth knowing, thanks for all the info. I had never considered what happened to the stalks and leaves, all the facts I had concerned the grain and its processing. The issue of maize is high on the public agenda this year for this region because of the water situation, we are still desperate and if we don't get real rain soon we will be in crisis! Thanks, best wishes Chris.

Thanks Chris, that's interesting information, where are you located and can you say any more about this process? Are the cobs also chopped up and included as part of this process? Chris.  

It is left to dry because it is for processing, this increases the starch content.  According to the Minister for Agriculture 50% is for animal feed, 25% for human consumption and 25% for industrial use. In the case of animals it would seem that it is sold to "feed" manufacturers who then add loads of goodies, anti depressants and the like to be used in factory farming. One could suppose that the 25% for human consumption is for maize flour. Industrial uses, I have yet to find out. About 60% of a maize farmers income is from subsidies and a farmer who uses pumped water irrigation receives 600 euros a hectare in Prime au Maïs Irrigué.   Silage is Silage and is made in exactly the same way as UK. nothing to do with Maize. Best I can do on this one. Chris

Restrictions in Poitou-Charentes are liable to be with us for a considerable time, the rain we have had has just about wet the ground, it will not have touched the underground systems.   Have a look at the ponds ( often dry holes ) and the rivers, many of which are near empty and not moving. Chris.