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Is U.S. Safe From Foxhunting Debate? |
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Laura Howden National Geographic News |
| May 31, 2002 |
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A ban on foxhunting, proposed in England and recently passed by lawmakers in Scotland, reflects a majority view that killing animals for sport is a cruel and uncivilized pastime. The age-old tradition, spread worldwide during Great Britain's empire-building days, has its U.S. counterpart. Foxhunting in the States is steeped in tradition from the motherland, but with one important difference: The purpose is to chase, but not kill, the fox. While media coverage and political attention engendered by the foxhunting debate is at an all-time high in Great Britain—"Furious Peers Lose Last Chance to Veto Hunt Ban," reads one of the U.K. Guardian Unlimited's headlines—in the United States it is not nearly as prominent. Foxhunters in the U.S., however, could experience fallout from whatever happens in England, said Joseph J. Keusch, a Master of Foxhounds in Virginia. In the U.S. hounds are trained to pursue the fox until it goes to ground (finds cover in one of its holes). The hounds "mark" the spot by barking at the hole and are then rewarded and called away. Typically the fox is unharmed. "There is not a single foxhunter out there that doesn't love animals. If you don't like your horse or the ride, you are not going to last long," Keusch said. "We are out there with our friends on horses and enjoying open spaces. We like nothing more than seeing a fox—that is the highlight, that is what we brag about." Keusch's Virginia hunt has had only two kills in the five years he's been a master. "It's not like you shoot it and then find it some days later. Once the hounds get a fox, it's not going to get away," said Keusch. "If it does, it's not going to be injured. That is where the cruelty, I think, comes in—when you see a deer with one leg shot off out in the field." In England hunt objectives are significantly different. Hounds that have successfully tracked a fox are trained to pull it or dig it out of its hole, and the fox is killed. The holes may also be stopped up to prevent the fox from taking cover. "England has a large number of sheep. Foxes definitely have a toll on young lambs, and the terrain is perfect to encourage overly large [fox] populations," said Lt. Col. Dennis Foster (Ret.), executive director of the Masters of Foxhounds Association of America (MFHA). One of the main arguments behind the pro-hunt movement in England is that foxhunters perform a social service by culling foxes. Advocates for banning foxhunting in England argue that hunting and killing animals with packs of dogs is cruel and unnecessary. The United Kingdom Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is one of several organizations that have joined the political fray. "As far as the RSPCA is concerned, it's a very black and white issue: Hunting is intrinsically cruel. We are opposed to it," said Lisa Dewhurst, Senior Press Officer. The RSPCA suggests that foxhunting be replaced by drag hunting, in which hounds are trained to follow a scented cloth dragged over the ground rather than a fox. "Drag hunting is a very viable alternative that would allow hunts to retain the social side but without any of the cruelty," said Dewhurst. "We don't agree that they [foxes] are vermin," said Dewhurst. "We do accept that there are foxes that are a problem." In those instances, other ways of controlling problem foxes that are deemed more humane are advocated, such as employing skilled shooters. Foxes are occasionally killed in U.S. hunts, although this is the exception. "Foxes gone to ground are healthy, and the few that do get killed are probably sick," said Foster, adding that this encourages healthier populations. U.S. Hunt History in Brief Organized foxhunts in the U.S. have existed since colonial times, and until the 1960s were identical to those in England, said Foster. Red foxes were imported from England because the native grey fox climbs trees, making the hunt exceedingly difficult. Some red foxes migrated from Canada; also, many groups hunt other quarry including coyotes. Quarry may be culled where it is regarded as a threat to livestock, but it must be done in a humane manner. Population control of the red fox, however, has never been an issue in the U.S. "They are not vermin here," said Foster. Foxhunting in the U.S. and Canada is regulated by the MFHA, which "put the emphasis on the chase because we didn't need to cull the foxes," he said. Banning the Hunt Drawbacks to a ban in England include the impact on those who might lose their jobs as a result, the necessity of putting down a large number of foxhounds, and the loss of a 300-year-old tradition. "We estimate that somewhere between 6,000 and 8,000 full-time equivalent jobs presently depend on hunting, although the number of people involved may be significantly higher," stated the 2000 Burns Report, the result of a government-initiated inquiry into hunting with dogs. "The hunts argue that the majority of the present 20,000 or so hounds would have to be put down." In March, the British government announced that it would take six months to consult with all parties before introducing new legislation regarding the future of foxhunting. The three options being considered include imposing a complete ban on foxhunting, maintaining the status quo, and establishing licensing laws that restrict the hunt to specific purposes, such as culling large populations. Whatever the outcome in England, it's certain the debate will continue for some time after any legislative decision has been made there. For foxhunting in the U.S., the "chase" may or may not be the saving grace. More About Foxhunting Masters of Foxhounds Association of America Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Foxman (pro-foxhunting discourse) BBC news coverage of the debate Guardian Unlimited news coverage of the debate Join the National Geographic Society Join the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organization, and help further our mission to increase and diffuse knowledge of the world and all that is in it. Membership dues are used to fund exploration and educational projects and members also receive 12 annual issues of the Society's official journal, National Geographic. Click here for details of our latest subscription offer: Go>> |
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