NEW ACHILLES HEEL IN BADGER CULLING SCHEME

March 28, 2013

28th March 2013

Continuing confusion over badger populations in areas designated for killing them is the Achilles heel of the badger culling policy. It strikes at the heart of the scheme because proving the exact proportion of badgers culled is essential. Last October official estimates were almost twice those expected [1].

A year ago Parliament was given an estimate of between 1,000 and 1,500 for areas of  150 sq km as a total over four years [2]. Now, Natural England, the body responsible for overseeing the proposed killing of badgers, has told the Badger Trust that DNA testing to verify populations costs £260,000, a significant increase against total forecast costs.
David Williams, chairman of the Badger Trust said:

“This confusion raises the question of whether we can trust anything the Coalition says as it twists and turns to justify the slaughter of an iconic protected mammal on an unprecedented scale”.

The new figures indicated that the minimum number of badgers to be killed in six weeks would be 2,081 and 2,856 in the two areas, a grand total of 4,937. The marksmen would have to kill at least 50 or 68 respectively on every night throughout the six weeks despite stringent restrictions on their
methods.

The Trust says:

  1. Natural England claims the change of estimates does not imply any error in the original methodology, but the Trust says this is wrong. If the killing had gone ahead last year on the lower population estimate it would have fallen far short of the required 70 per cent kill rate needed for any chance of a small benefit in the fight against bovine tuberculosis. Also, badger populations vary considerably through the year because of high cub mortality during the early months, suggesting a need for even more surveys this spring.
  2. The revised populations imply a massively increased task which jeopardises the cost calculations for a free shooting policy, the hoped-for cheap option for the livestock industry.
  3. The Trust understands the methodology could vary between the newly designated standby area in Dorset and those in Somerset and Gloucestershire, further undermining reliability of any population estimates. This would negate any claims that all areas had been treated the same way.
  4. The Times [3] has reported that activists have removed hair from fences, disrupting the collection of DNA samples to be compared later with those from shot badgers to estimate the kill rate. This could upset the calculation of what population size the necessary 70% would relate to. This would also compromise any estimate of the proportion of badgers removed as well as increasing the likely enormous policing costs.
  5. Continuing muddle about access to land and who is responsible for ensuring safety must be resolved, particularly if any of the killing areas lay in land controlled by the National Parks Authority.

NOTES
[1] http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2012-10-17a.122759.h
[2] The former farming Minister Mr James Paice, told the Commons on October 18th 2011: “We
anticipate that about 1,000 to 1,500 badgers would be killed, as a total over the four years, for every
150 sq km area”.
[3] The Times, March 27, 2013
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/environment/wildlife/article3704844.ece

Learn About Badgers!
A badger sett is a system of tunnels and nesting chambers lined with bedding such as grass, moss and leaves.
Cubs are normally born in February, and the average number in a litter is three, although the range can be from one to five.
Badgers are considered omnivorous, although their diet varies so much in different countries they are also sometimes termed ‘local specialists’.
Badgers live mainly in woods and copses in extensive underground burrow systems called setts.
Badgers are shy, nocturnal animals that live in underground chambers connected by a network of tunnels known as a sett.
Did You Know?
It has been estimated that up to 50,000 badgers may be killed on our roads each year. If safe to do so, it is worth checking what appears to be a dead badger.
Snares can do serious damage to skin tissue which is not immediately obvious.
Badger cubs begin to explore above ground in May, sometimes without mum’s permission!
Try not to cause the animal alarm, but observe from a distance.
Help & Advice
Our website is packed full or helpful advice and facts about badgers and how the handle them in numerous situations.
BADGERS & DEVELOPMENT
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BADGERS IN DISTRESS
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then call us immediately on
our dedicated Phone line and
select Option 1. 08448 707 908
BADGERS IN THE GARDEN
Not everyone wants badgers in their garden, we know that they can dig up lawns, eat bulbs and generally make a mess.

Please contact us on enquiries@lancashirebadgergroup.org.uk for advice on your specific problem with badgers in your garden, we are happy to help.