Badger Cull Trial Approved

Until recently, the Wildlife & Countryside Act dictated that ‘In Great Britain, legislation prohibits the taking, injuring, selling, possessing or killing of badgers’, however that could be about to change as badger culling has been approved in two areas of the UK in an attempt to tackle bovine TB in cattle. The trial will be the forerunner to a decision as to whether it should be extended across the country.

 

The controversial move, prompted opponents to argue that shooting badgers is an unnecessary act of cruelty and that more research should be undertaken into TB vaccines and it looks like the battle will continue to rage for some time to come.

 

Badgers are widely distributed in Britain and live in social groups of around 6-9 adults. Mainly nocturnal, they live in underground tunnels, known as setts but can sometimes be found in quiet sites above ground.

 

The badger is not regarded as a major pest – only occasionally coming into conflict with man. For more information and advice about badgers, call us free on 0800 169 9646 or locate your local branch.