KILL THE CULL NOT THE BADGERS

July 13, 2011

13th July 2011

REACTIVE  badger culling doubles the risk of bTB breakdown on herds within one kilometre of the culled area. That’s the stark warning from the latest scientific research by Imperial College.
Using rigorous analytical techniques the research [1], released today (July 13) underlines once again the dangers inherent in attempts to control bovine TB by killing badgers.
Commenting on the news Badger Trust chairman David Williams said: “This is yet another warning to the Government. It reinforces what we already know from the Randomised Badger Culling Trials (RBCT) that localised culling makes matters worse and it underlines the message from top scientists that badger culling is not the way forward.  And we have already heard from Lord Krebs that, in his view, culling–whether proactive or reactive– is not the way to beat the disease. The estimated benefits are too small and the time frame too long. The Government must take this latest research on board and scrap any plan to cull, especially as shooting, a totally untried and untested culling method, carries a very real risk of disrupting badger populations with the same negative perturbation effect on cattle TB that we have seen in reactive culling.
Mr Williams added: “Apart from the obvious badger welfare and human safety considerations,we have it on good authority that it would be exceedingly difficult to ensure co-ordinated, sustained, efficient and simultaneous culling of badgers by “controlled shooting”–the Government’s preferred description for shooting free-running badgers.  The risk of making cattle TB worse is so grave that we urge the government to consider the position very seriously.”

 

Contact:  Jack Reedy, Media Advisor

 

Tel. 01564 783129

Mobile: 07751 731107

[1] Localized reactive badger

culling increases risk of

bovine tuberculosis in

nearby cattle herds

Flavie Vial and Christl A. Donnelly,

MRC Centre for Outbreak Analysis and Modelling, Department of

Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London.

 

 

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.