What do you know about Badgers

There are several kinds of Badgers in the world. The European badger (Meles meles) is one of Britain’s largest most distinctive and possibly best-loved mammals. Most people are familiar with the black and white stripy face, and know that badgers liver in underground tunnels or sett’s, but surprisingly very few have actually seen a live one in it’s natural surroundings.

The reasons for this are that the badger is a secretive and largely nocturnal creature and rarely presents itself for public viewing. They are not so difficult to see when watching in the right place at the right time, but patience, silence and a sense of wind direction are essential.

Such attributes are not exactly common to the human race in general, so perhaps it is not surprising that so few people have observed live, wild badgers after all. Badgers like almost all wild creatures, normally have an instinctive fear of man.

Those people lucky enough to have watched wild badgers probably witnessed one or more of these very attractive animals digging, feeding, playing, and generally getting on with their lives, usually in close family groups. They protect and discipline their offspring, exercise meticulous grooming, and are very house proud, and do not intentionally interfere with or disturb anybody. In fact just the sort of neighbours you would expect almost everybody to appreciate.

Badgers and farming

Unfortunately badgers are not universally adored as some of their activities may clash with those in the farming community. Badgers are capable of excavating very large holes very quickly, sometimes were a farmer may not want them. Obviously this can be dangerous if there are cattle in the vicinity, or a nuisance if it happens in a crop field.

These problems are usually easy to overcome, it is less easy to prove that a badger is or is not stealing lambs of chickens. Fortunately it is a rare occurrence as their normal diet analysis shows, and substantial evidence of such activities is rarely forthcoming. However a few still consider them to be a threat to livestock.

A more recent and much more serious problem is that of transference of Bovine Tuberculosis between cattle and badgers. As yet no satisfactory solution has been found. Each of these problems may at times necessitate removal of individual animals or complete Annihilation in the case of proven Tuberculosis infection. Either course of action when essential, should be done as humanely as possible, and after obtaining the necessary licenses.

Badgers and Tuberculosis (TB)

Apart from BSE (Mad cow Disease) the most publicised farming problem is that of TB in cattle and badgers. The Ministry of Agriculture (MAFF) at one time gassed badgers local to cattle out-breaks but this policy was suspended when it was found that death was prolonged and therefore cruel.

When a herd breakdown occurs badgers come a long way down the list of casual investigations – Which indicates that other sources are more commonly found.

The present action when badgers are suspected is by live trapping and shooting, which has the advantage of furnishing post-mortem specimens and therefore gives a clearer idea of the number of infected badgers. A recent innovation is the development of a live test for badgers, “Brock test” but the badgers have to be held for three days.

A Badger vaccine has been developed but MAFF will not sanction its use, although it is being used in trials in Eire. The problem is almost completely confined to the South-west Counties for reasons not understood, although there have been recent outbreaks in Wales including Gwent.

A factor that maintains a reservoir of infection in cattle is that the skin test method leaves 5% of infected cows undetected. A superior test is available but MAFF will not use it on cost grounds.

Protective Legislation

The 1973 Badgers Act has been strengthened by various other Legislation and most of this has been incorporated into the 1992 protection of Badgers Act. This now covers set protection and forfeiture of dogs of convicted offenders.

Sections of the Wildlife Act 1981 still apply, as do sections of the Criminal Justices act 1991. Fines can now be up to £5000, Jail sentences up to 6 months or both.

Persecution

There are still people who get enjoyment from killing badgers, and presumably, the longer it takes to do the killing the greater the enjoyment. They come from all walks of life, and mostly are neither farmers nor employed in agriculture.

Badgers are tough and are not easy to kill so they provide an ideal victim for sadists.

The practice of badger digging involves removing them from their setts with the help of terriers. The dogs are intended to corner the badgers while the men dig down from above. During the fights that ensue dogs can sustain major injuries from the more powerful cornered badger, and the fight may be continued above ground as the men drag the badger from it’s sett, (often maiming it by breaking limbs or jaw, or by blinding it) and rate their dogs when set against it.

The badger must ultimately loose the fight, for if it survives the succession of dogs it may be battered to death with a spade or crowbar. The death of a female in the spring probably means the death of her cubs as well.

TO MAIL US:office@gwentbadgergroup.org.uk