All this talk about 'feral' animals...

Rovi

Just for the record, in the context of our discussions, the word 'feral' refers to domesticated animals that have reverted to the wild state, or the descendants of such animals.
In the few threads on the subject, I've seen foxes, crows, magpies, hares and rabbits described as 'feral'. While this is technically true in the classical sense of the word, it's incorrect in this context. The animals mentioned are indigenous wildlife and were never domesticated, and thus never reverted to the wild state.
In the case of mink and grey squirrels it's somewhat less clear, as they are both introduced species, but it's arguable if they were ever truly domesticated.
Anyhow, true 'feral' animals in the Irish context are things like cats, dogs, sheep, goats, etc; animals (or their ancestors) that were once domesticated but are now living in a truly wild state. In other parts of the world, the definition also includes stuff like cattle, pigs, and even camels.

I am somehow reminded of an episode of 'Allo 'Allo! in which Édith was 'singing' to the clientèle of the café. Leftenant Gruber turned to René and asked: "Your wife has a most unusual voice René, was it ever trained?" "Yes," replied René, "but it escaped and returned to the wild."
i.e. her voice had gone 'feral'

Clare gunner

I

am somehow reminded of an episode of 'Allo 'Allo! in which Édith was 'singing' to the clientèle of the café. Leftenant Gruber turned to René and asked: "Your wife has a most unusual voice René, was it ever trained?" "Yes," replied René, "but it escaped and returned to the wild."
i.e. her voice had gone 'feral'

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Was that the one with the flying helmet and the wet celery????:D

maglite

in regard to rabbits and hares Brown hares were introduced to Ireland by landowners in the 19th century to supplement game species for hunting parties.

and rabbits were introduced to Ireland by the Normans in the12th century so they were domesticated allbe it in the 11th and 12th centuary

Keelan

Never seen brown hares over my part of the country before, only red hares, what part of the country are they in?
Keelan.

maglite

north leinster and up into ulster

Keelan

Thanks.:)
I would love to take some photo's of these, i know a few folk their, must get in touch with them.:)
Keelan.

Keelan

Below in attachments, is some photo's i took a couple of years back.
Got woken up by the pinemarten one morning, at my bird table, contiued on and took some pics of a fox family in a baled feild.
Keelan.

maglite

they are rare most of what you see will be the mountain hare

thelurcher

Nice pics Keelan.

Vegeta

Keelan wrote:

Below in attachments, is some photo's i took a couple of years back.
Got woken up by the pinemarten one morning, at my bird table, contiued on and took some pics of a fox family in a baled feild.
Keelan.

Unreal pics they are class. nicely done

Clare gunner

You can also add to introduced species;Fallow and Sika deer,ring neck, and chinese pheasent,and the partridge and quail.

Vegeta

Rovi wrote:

Just for the record, in the context of our discussions, the word 'feral' refers to domesticated animals that have reverted to the wild state, or the descendants of such animals.
In the few threads on the subject, I've seen foxes, crows, magpies, hares and rabbits described as 'feral'. While this is technically true in the classical sense of the word, it's incorrect in this context. The animals mentioned are indigenous wildlife and were never domesticated, and thus never reverted to the wild state.'

I think when people were referring to these animals (in my case anyway) it was because we were being attacked by anti shooting posters and the parallel was being drawn between damage done by vermin in this country, rabbits, foxes, magpies etc and damage done by feral cats