Badger Cull Petitions – Lancashire

February 19, 2014

[lead]Operation Badger (link here to find your own council petitions)  is a fantastic initiative set up to bring about debates surrounding the badger cull at local authority level through the power of petitions.  The aim is to ban badger culling on council land and encourage investment in vaccination across as much of the country as possible. We fully support this concept.[/lead]

Lancashire Badger Group have, however decided not to set up any local petitions at this stage for the following reasons;

  1. Lancashire is not a bTb hotspot and is currently listed as a low risk area in government consultation. These areas are not listed as likely to be part of the cull roll out at the present time. Culling badgers is costly and ineffective at best, never mind in areas where a significant wildlife reservoir is lacking.
  2. As a result of the above, tb is not considered to be an issue in the badger population and we want to distance ourselves from the view that if culling is a danger in Lancashire, it must be because badgers have tb. A recent freedom of information request* revealed that no badgers have tested positive for tb in Lancashire. Lancashire IS a hotspot for crime and persecution of badgers, we are concerned that the widespread belief that badgers have tb may make this situation worse, as the cull in the South west already appears to be doing.
  3. We may find in the future that there is the potential for a cull in Lancashire. We are concerned that if the petitions are set up now they will not gain sufficient support given the low chance of a cull being rolled out here at present. This will then mean that when we are likely to gain most support we may not be able to set up a similar petition as it has already been done. We WILL look again at setting up petitions across the county if this happens.

We do strongly support the promotion of petitions across the country already set up and will do everything we can to help.

[highlight]Please see the below petitions for Lancashire. They are out there now so please do sign them so that the debate can happen and the right decision be made.[/highlight]

LANCASHIRE

Link Here to website

LCCPetition for downloadable version.

MERSEYSIDE

Link Here

BOLTON

Link Here

 

If you would like to set up your own petition please go to BRAVE.

*FOI requested data between 2009 and end of 2013 for badgers tested within Lancashire.

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
If you’re concerned about
badger welfare in relation
to property development.
BADGERS IN DISTRESS
If you find a badger in need
of urgent care or in distress
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.