Foxes ratting

[Tiercel 6,986]

Found this intresting photo and read.

John Gaunt rat catcher.






John Wheeldon, better known as John Gaunt. He lived at Sawmills but worked for the Midland Railway Company, travelling the lines as a ratcatcher. He is the only person known to have successfully trained foxes to 'rat' for economic use, and claimed they were better than terriers becaused they could hold five rats in their mouths at once. The ratcatcher had to be quick because, unlike a terrier, foxes did not kill the rats outright. His best two foxes, however, were killed accidentally by gamekeepers. Such was his national fame that he was described in a book as a 'great sportsman great Englishman'. He died , aged seventy three, at the home of a friend in Belper in November 1924, and was buried in Crich churchyard. He was also a prize-winning member of Ambergate Cottage Garden Society.

TC

Edited May 8, 2017 by Tiercel

[pip1968 2,490]

just goes to show the difference in fox size to whats around now

[christian71 3,187]

Found this intresting photo and read.

 

John Gaunt rat catcher.

 

 

 

 

John Wheeldon, better known as John Gaunt. He lived at Sawmills but worked for the Midland Railway Company, travelling the lines as a ratcatcher. He is the only person known to have successfully trained foxes to 'rat' for economic use, and claimed they were better than terriers becaused they could hold five rats in their mouths at once. The ratcatcher had to be quick because, unlike a terrier, foxes did not kill the rats outright. His best two foxes, however, were killed accidentally by gamekeepers. Such was his national fame that he was described in a book as a 'great sportsman great Englishman'. He died , aged seventy three, at the home of a friend in Belper in November 1924, and was buried in Crich churchyard. He was also a prize-winning member of Ambergate Cottage Garden Society.

 

TC

 

Any more info???

[socks 32,253]

Very interesting that I shall have to look more into this .......

[Malt 379]

Interesting. Don't know if its relavant but I read that foxes evolved to be specialist mouse hunters, that's why they are the most cat like canine. Knowing that, its not a stretch to see how they could make good ratters..

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

just goes to show the difference in fox size to whats around now

 

I saw one yesterday, bolted past me in some thick woodland behind my house. Not joking it was the size of a border collie. I followed up to where it came from and there was an old derelict building, I only stuck around for 10 minutes with the dogs but saw another 2, not as big as the first but a bloody good size none the less.

 

Gaz

[Haiddheliwr 1,911]

Excellent pics lads and some interesting facts! Really enjoying this thread! Thanks for sharing

[David.evans 5,323]

Great photos is write , it would be really good as well if there were books with tails of outing out as well

ATB

[cragman 2,791]

Found this intresting photo and read.

 

John Gaunt rat catcher.

 

 

 

 

John Wheeldon, better known as John Gaunt. He lived at Sawmills but worked for the Midland Railway Company, travelling the lines as a ratcatcher. He is the only person known to have successfully trained foxes to 'rat' for economic use, and claimed they were better than terriers becaused they could hold five rats in their mouths at once. The ratcatcher had to be quick because, unlike a terrier, foxes did not kill the rats outright. His best two foxes, however, were killed accidentally by gamekeepers. Such was his national fame that he was described in a book as a 'great sportsman great Englishman'. He died , aged seventy three, at the home of a friend in Belper in November 1924, and was buried in Crich churchyard. He was also a prize-winning member of Ambergate Cottage Garden Society.

 

TC

Got the bottom photo on my wall, countrymans were knocking them out a few years ago

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

Just as well he had Russells though as would of been an interesting outing .

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

Any more on the gentleman,lads .Can't find anymore but the stuff already up .Seen foxes ratting at night and they have an impressive strike .

[David.evans 5,323]

That's something I've not seen either , shame really !

[EDDIE B 3,166]

What did he use the cat for then? lol

[Dervburner 2,549]

Here’s a thread resurrection for philpot. Found another picture of the Sawmills Ratcatcher.

[waltjnr 7,019]

11 minutes ago, Dervburner said:

Here’s a thread resurrection for philpot. Found another picture of the Sawmills Ratcatcher.

What a picture !